One of the most anticipated moments in the program will be the keynote address by Michel Arrion, Executive Director of the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), who will speak on the global cocoa economy and regional challenges. This will be followed by a strategic session on financing for research and technology transfer—key components in advancing toward a more efficient, resilient, and equitable production system.
The seminar will include thematic working groups covering topics such as trade strategies among producing countries and the transformative role of tourism in the sustainability of the cocoa-chocolate chain. In this regard, Antonio Santos del Valle, President of the Tourism and Society Think Tank, will deliver a talk on how tourism can act as a catalyst for economic, social, and cultural development in cocoa-producing regions by creating added value through integrated and responsible experiences.
Special attention will also be given to the social and territorial dimensions of cocoa production. Mtra. Columba Jazmín López Gutiérrez, Undersecretary for Productive Inclusion and Rural Development at the Ministry of Welfare, will analyze the role of cocoa within the "Sembrando Vida" program. Experts from Colombia and multilateral organizations will also present Latin America's outlook as a key producing region.
The working groups will be enriched by the presence of ambassadors from producing countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, and Côte d'Ivoire, alongside representatives from cooperation agencies such as GIZ, Agexport, and Rainforest Mexico, enabling a multinational dialogue. Joint reflection will be encouraged on the challenges related to research, technology transfer, business integration, and institutional sustainability.
The second day of the seminar will begin with the participation of state authorities from Chiapas and Tabasco, two of Mexico’s major cocoa-producing regions. The sessions will explore the factors behind high-quality fine-flavor cocoa, regional producer experiences, the role of women as a driving force in the value chain, and the contributions of major companies such as Nestlé, Mondelez, Ecom, and ASCHOCO.
The seminar will close with an explicit recognition of cocoa as a symbol of cultural identity and as a source of opportunity for social inclusion, regional cooperation, and sustainable territorial development. The event will end with a networking lunch aimed at fostering collaboration among stakeholders across the sector.
This international gathering represents not only an opportunity to rethink the current state of cocoa in Mexico and Latin America but also a platform for building shared solutions, promoting best practices, and positioning cocoa and chocolate as symbols of sustainability and equity in the global market. The broad participation and thematic diversity position the 5th International Seminar as a strategic space for the future of the cocoa-chocolate value chain.
More information: https://www.genomacacao.com/
