10 december 2013 dutch policy on sustainable cocoa lucie wassink

10 December 2013

Dutch policy on sustainable cocoa

Lucie Wassink

Why is the Dutch Government interested in cocoa

• Companies are active

• Concerns of civil society

• Important role in the chain

19 april 2023Ministerie van Economische Zaken3

First steps of processing is happening in The Netherlands

• 25% of world cocoa enters Port of Amsterdam

• Grinders: ECOM Dutch cocoa, ADM, Cargill

19 april 2023Ministerie van Economische Zaken4

Letter of intent

We, the signatories of this Letter of Intent, strive to continuing our efforts at an international level to contribute to the revitalization of the cocoa sector within our own responsibilities and capabilities.

In close collaboration with the responsible authorities we will help improve the lives and incomes of millions of small farmers, in order to build an attractive cocoa sector for current and future generations.

We will continue to contribute to training of farmers in modern agricultural techniques to promote higher productivity and better quality cocoa. We support the organization and strengthening of producer groups and improved working and living conditions.

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Stakeholders

• Government of the Netherlands • Industry and traders

• NGO’s & Trade Unions

• Certification bodies

• Wageningen UR & KIT

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Milestones• Start• 2012 all chocolate letters in the Netherlands are

sustainable

• Sequel• 2020 80% consumption in the Netherlands is sustainable• 2025 100% consumption in the Netherlands is sustainable

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Solution how to address sustainability

•Certified cocoa : Fair trade, Utz, Rainforrest Alliance, Organic

•Future standards or other possibilities

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Actions done by Dutch government• Install and faciliate a National Multi-Stakeholder Platform to

implement the actions

• Measurement of progress for political and public support:• Monitoring by Wageningen UR• Cocoa Barometer • Measuring impact Wageningen UR

• Bufferstockfund € 12 mln world wide research

• Public Private Partnership Programs (IDH,Embassy, FDOV)

Actions (2)Knowledge dissemination: learn from each other

• website cocoa connect www.cocoaconnect.org

Recent developments: more cooperation

• From Abidjan to Amsterdam

• ICCO organised WCC1 in Abidjan

• National plans for sustainable cocoa

• ICCO is organising WCC2 in Amsterdam 9-13 June 2014

19 april 2023Ministerie van Economische Zaken11

Discussion points

5 B 's

• Biodiversity• Bodem (soil)• Bomen (trees) • Boeren (farmers)• Beyond certification

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Biodiversity

• Allways mentioned but actions are legging behind

• Less biodiversity

• Less shadow trees

• Who is paying for extra work

Bodem (soil) Soil fertility is not popular:• first signs of decline hardly visible• restoratiion takes a long time• slow return on investments• farmer lacks means for improvement

Problem more urgent• rapid population growth• dieet changes• climate changes• urbanisation

Bodem (soils (2) We are starting:• policy dialogue• precompatetive platform• recycling organic matter and minerals from urban to rural areas• stimulating B2B

Fertile Ground Initiative WURsuppliers waste management, fertilizer companies, farmers)

(Christy.vanbeek@WUR.nl)

19 april 2023Ministerie van Economische Zaken15

Bomen (trees)

• Old trees• Pest and diseases• Less species to chose

19 april 2023Ministerie van Economische Zaken16

Boeren (farmers)

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Beyond certificationCocoa certifications in future: some necessities, trends and worries

• It takes time but we want to have it now• Every country/company its own standard• How are we going to pay for it in the future

Think about a way forward• Working together• Working together with other certifiers of products• Something different and new

19 april 2023Ministerie van Economische Zaken18

Thank for your attention