Supply chain management for total quality cocoa: pilot phase

DURATION:
 Eight years
LOCATION:
 COTE D’IVOIRE
NATURE OF PROJECT:
 Supply chain and quality improvement.
ESTIMATED TOTAL COST:
 (Amount withheld at donor’s request)
CO-FINANCING:
 (Amount withheld at donor’s request)
COUNTERPART FINANCING:
 (Amount withheld at donor’s request)
PROJECT EXECUTING AGENCY (PEA):
 ICCO Task Force on Quality
PROJECT SUPERVISORY BODY:
 International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
PROJECT STARTING DATE:
 November 2001
COMPLETION DATE:
 April 2009

 

Brief Description

The project started in November 2001 with the development and implementation of a model of a cocoa supply chain system which would meet the quality criteria of CAOBISCO (Association of Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of the European Union). The system began at the co-operative level where the cocoa was collected from the farmers in villages designated as “project villages”. The cocoa collected from each farmer was kept separate from other cocoas and moved to the warehouse of the cooperative where it was checked for physical quality against the standards of the project.  If the quality criteria were met, the cocoa would be placed into export bags, sealed and labelled.  The cocoa would then be transported to the port, once again checked for quality, then shipped.  This system would ensure not only full traceability to the farmer at the village level, but also full integrity of the cocoa between co-operative and shipment, through to the overseas manufacturer. To encourage farmers and co-operatives to engage in the proposed system and in recognition of the extra effort to produce project quality cocoa, chocolate manufacturers paid a Project Participation Incentive (P.P.I) to the traders for distribution among farmers and co-operatives.

 
Project Objectives

The main objective of the project was to produce and export cocoa that meets the total quality criteria of the cocoa industry as well as to improve the efficiency of the marketing chain in Côte d’Ivoire.

 
Project Results

During the pilot operations between 2003 and 2009, the project exported a total of 16,526 tonnes of cocoa that met the essential project cocoa requirements of physical quality standards and traceability. About 15,000 farmers and staff of participating cooperatives received training on best post-harvest practices. Training manuals and quality control equipment worth US$150,000 were provided to the participating cooperatives by the project. An estimated US$ 1 million in Project Participation Incentive (PPI) has been paid to the participating cooperatives and to a Social Fund for community development.
The system developed and tested, proved that it was commercially viable to produce cocoa which meets the physical quality standards of CAOBISCO, which is fully traceable and of which the integrity is maintained between cooperative and the point of export. Logistical problems, the socio-political situation in Côte d’Ivoire, availability of appropriate sacks, implementation of timely training etc., were some of the major constraints identified which made it difficult to achieve the required volumes of project cocoa during the pilot operations.

Click here to download the Project Report

 

Supply chain management for total quality cocoa: pilot phase

Duration:
 Eight years
Location:
 COTE D’IVOIRE
Nature of Project:
 Supply chain and quality improvement.
Estimated total Cost:
 (Amount withheld at donor’s request)
Co-financing:
 (Amount withheld at donor’s request)
Counterpart Financing:
 (Amount withheld at donor’s request)
Project Executing Agency (PEA):
 ICCO Task Force on Quality
Project Supervisory Body:
 International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
Project Starting Date:
 November 2001
Completion Date:
 April 2009

 

Brief Description

The project started in November 2001 with the development and implementation of a model of a cocoa supply chain system which would meet the quality criteria of CAOBISCO (Association of Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of the European Union). The system began at the co-operative level where the cocoa was collected from the farmers in villages designated as “project villages”. The cocoa collected from each farmer was kept separate from other cocoas and moved to the warehouse of the cooperative where it was checked for physical quality against the standards of the project.  If the quality criteria were met, the cocoa would be placed into export bags, sealed and labelled.  The cocoa would then be transported to the port, once again checked for quality, then shipped.  This system would ensure not only full traceability to the farmer at the village level, but also full integrity of the cocoa between co-operative and shipment, through to the overseas manufacturer. To encourage farmers and co-operatives to engage in the proposed system and in recognition of the extra effort to produce project quality cocoa, chocolate manufacturers paid a Project Participation Incentive (P.P.I) to the traders for distribution among farmers and co-operatives.

 
Project Objectives

The main objective of the project was to produce and export cocoa that meets the total quality criteria of the cocoa industry as well as to improve the efficiency of the marketing chain in Côte d’Ivoire.

 
Project Results

During the pilot operations between 2003 and 2009, the project exported a total of 16,526 tonnes of cocoa that met the essential project cocoa requirements of physical quality standards and traceability. About 15,000 farmers and staff of participating cooperatives received training on best post-harvest practices. Training manuals and quality control equipment worth US$150,000 were provided to the participating cooperatives by the project. An estimated US$ 1 million in Project Participation Incentive (PPI) has been paid to the participating cooperatives and to a Social Fund for community development.
The system developed and tested, proved that it was commercially viable to produce cocoa which meets the physical quality standards of CAOBISCO, which is fully traceable and of which the integrity is maintained between cooperative and the point of export. Logistical problems, the socio-political situation in Côte d’Ivoire, availability of appropriate sacks, implementation of timely training etc., were some of the major constraints identified which made it difficult to achieve the required volumes of project cocoa during the pilot operations.

Click here to download the Project Report

Feasibility study on the generic promotion of cocoa consumption in the Russian Federation

DURATION:
 One year
LOCATION:
 RUSSIAN FEDERATION
NATURE OF PROJECT:
 Consumption promotion
ESTIMATED TOTAL COST:
 US$ 30,000
CO-FINANCING:
 US$ 30,000
PROJECT EXECUTING AGENCY (PEA):
 International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO/ITC
PROJECT SUPERVISORY BODY:
 International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
PROJECT STARTING DATE:
 May 2001
COMPLETION DATE:
 June 2002

 

Brief Description

The feasibility study was conducted to establish whether and under what conditions a full-scale generic promotion campaign should be launched in the Russian Federation. The feasibility study involved consumer surveys, discussions and interviews with manufacturers, a survey of top managers of confectionery enterprise, sessions with focus groups, studies and analyses.

 
Project Objectives

The main objective of the project was to provide a basis for determining the feasibility, the strategy and the instruments for undertaking a generic-promotion campaign for cocoa and chocolate in the Russian Federation.

 
Project Results

The feasibility study concluded that there existed a sound basis for launching a full-scale generic promotion campaign in the Russian Federation. More than 70 per cent of the top managers in the confectionery industry were in favour of such a campaign and were prepared to support it.

Click here to download the Feasibility study in English

Click here to download the Feasibility study in Russian

The use of molecular biology techniques in a search for varieties resistant to Witches’ Broom disease of cocoa

DURATION:
 Five and a half years after six month extension.
LOCATION:
 BRAZIL,
ECUADOR,
PERU
NATURE OF PROJECT:
 Sustainable cocoa production
ESTIMATED TOTAL COST:
 US$ 3,191,824
FINANCING COMMITED BY CFC:
 US$ 816,197
CO-FINANCING:
 US$ 800,000
COUNTERPART FINANCING:
 US$ 1,575,527
PROJECT EXECUTING AGENCY (PEA):
 Comissao Executiva do Plano Lavoura Cacaueira (CEPLAC), Brazil
PROJECT SUPERVISORY BODY:
 International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
PROJECT STARTING DATE:
 April 2000
COMPLETION DATE:
 September 2005

 

Brief Description

The main activities of the project were construction of a genetic linkage map; identification and characterization of molecular markers associated with resistance to witches’ broom disease; identification of quality trait loci (QTL) related to agronomic traits; use of recurrent selection to obtain improved populations; backcrossing in cocoa; and germplasm evaluation.

 
Project Objectives

The main aim of the project was to apply molecular biology techniques in cocoa Germplasm evaluation, in particular using molecular markers at DNA level, to improve knowledge on the relationships among genotypes including studies on heterozygosity, pedigree, characterization of genes controlling the inheritance of economic traits and identification of genes controlling disease resistance. This process would lead to accelerated development and release of new cocoa planting materials which would be more uniform, more productive and more tolerant to diseases, particularly to witches’ broom

 
Project Results

A highly saturated map was developed for variety Sca-6 x ICS and saturated maps were constructed for varieties CAB x ICS-39 and CAB-214 x ICS-39. Molecular markers related to gene resistant to witches’ broom were identified. QTLs with important agronomic traits were identified. About 1300 cocoa trees from recurrent selection were produced and transferred to the field. Backcrossings in cocoa were conducted to advance backcross generations based on molecular and phenotypic data. Through germplasm evaluation, molecular data from 800 clones were collected using different types of markers, and the genetic diversity of the clones was assessed.

Click here to download the Project Completion Report (PCR)

 

Study of the chemical, physical and organoleptic parameters to establish the difference between fine and bulk cocoa

DURATION:
 5 and a half years after 18 monts extension
LOCATION:
 ECUADOR,
PAPUA NEW GUINEA,
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
VENEZUELA
NATURE OF PROJECT:
 Research and Development
ESTIMATED TOTAL COST:
 US$ 1,666,570
FINANCING COMMITED BY CFC:
 US$ 839,223
CO-FINANCING:
 US$ 205,837
COUNTERPART FINANCING:
 US$ 617,510
PROJECT EXECUTING AGENCY (PEA):
 Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIAP)
PROJECT SUPERVISORY BODY:
 International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
PROJECT STARTING DATE:
 January 2001
COMPLETION DATE:
 March 2006

 

Brief Description

The main activities carried out during project implementation were fermentation and drying trials; chemical assessment of quality parameters; preparation and chemical analysis of cocoa liquor; organoleptic assessment of sensory characteristics; and DNA profiling and spectral image analysis.
Project Objectives

The main objective of the project was to provide universally acceptable criteria to differentiate between fine/flavour and bulk cocoa, thereby improving the marketing of fine or flavour cocoa. The specific objectives of the project were to establish and disseminate physical, chemical and organoleptic parameters for the evaluation of cocoa quality in relation to genotype and environment.

 
Project Results

The fermentation and drying trials showed that all parameters measured (temperature, pH, shell percentage, bean index and colour), with the exception of colour of the white Criollo from Venezuela, were useful in determining the good quality of cocoa. However, these parameters could not differentiate fine or flavour from Bulk cocoa.
The results of the chemical assessment of quality parameters and analysis of cocoa liquor indicated that theobromine/caffeine ratio had the potential to differentiate between fine and bulk cocoa. The fructose/glucose ratio showed some promising potential to also differentiate between fine and bulk cocoa. Results also showed that pyrazines and other volatile compounds could be used to differentiate different fine cocoa origins.
Organoleptic assessment of sensory characteristics confirmed that in general, cocoas from different origins have distinct flavour profiles, thus eliminating market competition among them. The results of organoleptic analysis also showed the influence of the environment on the flavour profiles of the same genotype in different countries.
The results of the DNA and spectral image analysis indicated that molecular markers could be used to distinguish different cocoa genotypes. In particular, it was possible to determine if a certain batch of cocoa contains mixture of different types of cocoa.

Click here to download the Project Completion Report (PCR)