The First International Cocoa Conference

Cocoa, Climate Change and the Future of Chocolate and the launch of Source Trust

Monday 7th September 2009, Olympia London

The world's first chocolate tracability conference was addressed by Dr John Mason CEO of the West Africa’s Nature Conservation Research Centre supported by a distinguished Science Panel featuring:

Professor Ken Norris of Reading University

Dr Mike Packer of Arbor Carb

Dr Mike Wells of Biodiversity by Design.

Artist, Angela Palmer will also preview her upcoming November Trafalgar Square Outside Expo ‘Ghost Forest’ to help save the West African Rain Forest

Further information on Trace the Difference and Source Trust

Speciality Chocolate Fair

Background

Climate change, logging and unsustainable farming practices are devastating the West African Rain Forest - the closest tropical zone to Europe in the same time zone just across the Sahara and down the Greenwich Meridian.

Growth in demand for cocoa products and a shrinking cocoa belt due to climate change may lead to a crisis of supply for the industry. Preliminary results from Nature Conservation Research indicate that traditional cocoa farming systems may offer a way out and save the Rain Forest as well.