World Cocoa Foundation confirms 2026 agenda

The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) has confirmed a key agenda for it 2026 partnership meeting, amid a period of considerable ongoing challenges for the sector, writes Neill Barston.

Notably, following last year’s edition in Brazil, the organisation has located the event as part of Amsterdam Cocoa Week, taking place between 17–18 February at the historic Beurs van Berlage venue.

The key heritage city heritage site will also play host to the major Chocoa cocoa event, which which it is officially partnering, which includes its major conference taking place that week, with the two events shining a major spotlight on sustainability for the industry.

As its organisers noted, the 2026 iteration will be under a banner of  “Securing Cocoa’s Future in a Changing World,” reflecting the critical challenges that are surrounding the industry. From high costs of cocoa (which has come down in recent months), through to climate change crisis impacting on farming yields, through to regulatory uncertainty over the EUDR and other regulations pivotal to the industry’s future.

Chris Vincent, President of the World Cocoa Foundation commented: “This is not business as usual. Cocoa’s future depends on fresh thinking, faster action and stronger partnerships. The Partnership Meeting is where leaders come together to move from talk to tangible change,”  

Programme Highlights
Cocoa Resilience at Risk: tackling cocoa diseases such as swollen shoot and frosty pod with fresh global responses from scientists, farmers and institutions
State of Regulation: how companies can prepare for fast-changing sustainability rules in Europe and beyond, with support from WCF tools and standards
Cocoa at the Crossroads: senior officials from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana on the future of origin-country leadership
Shaping Tomorrow’s Cocoa: emerging producers from Brazil, Ecuador, Nigeria, Cameroon and Indonesia on their growing global influence

The Cocoa TechXchange will return as a dynamic space for showcasing innovation and practical solutions, connecting industry leaders, tech developers and farmer-focused organisations.