African Cocoa Marketplace targets regulatory support for region’s crop growing communities
A key emerging quality assurance and marketing service for cocoa businesses, the African Cocoa Marketplace (ACM), has reported a strong start to its operations across the region, which remains a core location for the industry in being a vital cog in the global chocolate and snacks global supply chain, writes Neill Barston.
As Confectionery Production reported earlier this year, the venture has tasked itself with engaging with farming cooperatives and individual farmers in a bid to ensure greater sustainability credentials for the sector, ahead of major EUDR regulations that are set to come into force at the end of 2024.
ACM’s services, which have been timed for the beginning of the main 2024-25 harvest season across Africa, will help help sellers market their value propositions and business strengths to a global audience of buyers and investors. It will also help buyers find the exact cocoa products they need for their businesses according to their values. ACM does due diligence with sellers to guarantee that every marketing claim made by a seller has been vetted and certified according to the company’s standards.
The organisation’s certification is meant to enhance supply chain visibility and sustainability for cocoa. Headed by Dr. Kristy Leissle, ACM has been developing its new platform for 18 months and has already begun onboarding sellers from Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Dr. Kristy Leissle said: ‘Our platform will make it easy for buyers and sellers alike to share their value propositions and provide evidence of best practices with potential business partners.’
Denise Karway, United Women for Sustainable Development’s CEO from Bong County in Liberia, believed the venture had strong potential. She said: “United Women for Sustainable Development is excited to join ACM. As a women-led cooperative dedicated to organic cocoa production and trade, this platform will give us a unique opportunity to connect with a broader market and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices.
‘Our goal is to expand our reach, increase sales, and support local communities by creating sustainable livelihoods. By leveraging the ACM platform, we hope to showcase our high-quality organic cocoa beans and ensure more women and youth are involved in the value chain. By joining ACM, we can work together to create a more equitable and sustainable future for the cocoa industry.’
Meanwhile, Stephen Ashia from the ABOCFA Organic Cocoa Cooperative in Ghana (pictured below) said the 2023-24 harvest was not a good season because of climate change and other effects. However, the farmers are hoping for a better yield for the upcoming main crop, and he is delighted that the cooperative is joining ACM to sell its beans.
Kristy concluded: ‘When I look at African cocoa, I see a venerable past: well over a century of global leadership in cocoa production, with cocoa wealth, expertise, and knowledge passed on through generations. ‘I also see a bright future, which lies in the hands of cocoa farmers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders across the continent who trade and process cocoa.’
Cocoa sellers across Africa are invited to participate in the onboarding process by completing a short survey, found at the ACM’s website.
