World Cocoa Conference pushed back a further year over coronavirus pandemic
The biennial World Cocoa Conference event due to be staged in Bali this May, covering major issues impacting on the sustainability, has been postponed for a further year, due to the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, writes Neill Barston.
Having been already pushed back a year in May 2020 by its organisers, with a decision now having been been made for it to be staged as a physical event a year later, at the intended venue in Asia.
Confectionery Production previously reported on the last event, hosted by the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) held in Berlin back in 2018. It produced a range of powerful range of presentations from major confectionery manufacturers. Memorably, it also included an appearance from a group of German schoolchildren (pictured) who pledged to no longer purchase chocolate confectionery until the issue of child labour in supply chains was fully resolved.
Registration for the event was anticipated to have opened by the end of last year, but no sign of this occurring into the New Year, a decision was subsequently made to push back the event for a further year.
Organisers issued a short statement on its website, which read: “Given the current global health emergency following the COVID-19 outbreak, the World Cocoa Conference that was scheduled on the 23 – 26 May 2021 in Bali, Indonesia has been rescheduled to take place in 2022.
“This is due to large gatherings and travel being restricted by governments across the world for the foreseeable few months. The International Cocoa Organization is currently monitoring reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) daily. We must put the health and safety of our attendees and staff above all else.”
