European Cocoa Association welcomes five new members
The European Cocoa Association (ECA) has welcomed five new members to its organisation, as it continues its global mission to pursue sustainability within supply chains, writes Neill Barston.
As the key trade group explained to Confectionery Production, its latest additions include Netherlands-based agricultural commodities group Daarnhouwer, Oxy-Low advanced design packaging business and R Markey & Sons weighing and analysis firm, which has a number of sector specialisms including with sugar.
The new members also include ‘Eco Worldwide Solutions,’ EWS, a European service provider in Stored Product Protection and related services, and UPL, focused on global agricultural solutions, with more than 35 years experience working within West Africa, which has seen the company gain a decade of experience woking within the cocoa sector.
As the ECA explained, it is now working with a total of 42 businesses, engaging with companies to deliver on key sustainability goals, examining both EU legislative frameworks, and wider international trading standards to assist industry address performance issues.
Confectionery Production reported on its last key forum event held prior to the pandemic in 2019, which placed a central spotlight on major industry issues, including the introduction of the Living Income Differential payments to West African cocoa farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast.
The next event is due to be held in Rome, Italy, between 13-15 September 2022, with a full event programme that is likely to address major issues facing the sector, including the EU’s present focus on introducing due diligence legislation within supply chains.
Speaking on joining the ECA, Daarnhouwer & Co said “After a period of absence, we are honoured to be once more part of the European Cocoa Association. With more than one hundred years’ experience in fine and flavour cocoa, we consider it our duty to represent this sector within the ECA. We commend and want to actively support the valuable work carried out by the ECA through its working groups and the Joint Cocoa Research Fund. An active, integrated and inclusive participation of all actors in the cocoa sector is the key to effect positive and long-term changes. And we believe that the ECA is an organisation conducive to this change.”
