Thursday October 25, 2012

Swiss SECO, WCF Join To Advocate Cocoa Sustainability

Zürich, Switzerland — Joining forces to help the cocoa industry, the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) are holding a two day gathering in Zürich October 24 and 25. The organizations are discussing boosting incomes for producers, increasing production and improving farming practices through new technology.

With the theme “Innovations in Cocoa Sustainability: People, Planet, Profit,” the gathering is expected to draw in around 200 attendees, including government officials from cocoa-producing countries, members of development agencies, donor groups, non-governmental organizations and cocoa certifying bodies. Speakers will be representing such companies as Mars, Inc., Cargill, Inc., Nestlé, S.A., Mondeléz International, Inc., and The Hershey Co.

Bill Guyton, president of WCF, says: “SECO and WCF share a commitment to helping cocoa farmers improve their livelihoods. We at WCF bring the industry's perspectives to the meeting, while SECO provides the expertise and resources of a development agency. It's a win-win for our agenda and ultimately for farmers.”