Federal Minister of Agriculture Julia Klöckner referred several times to the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa and the PRO-PLANTEURS forum project in Côte d'Ivoire. In her opening address at the 4th World Cocoa Conference today, Monday, the Minister highlighted the many grievances that continue to dominate cocoa cultivation. These include the poverty of cocoa farmers, child labour and dealing with nature and the loss of biodiversity. Cocoa is the "key to food" and the "backbone of agriculture" in the countries where it is grown.

Individuals could certainly achieve little when it comes to fundamental remedies. Many supporters add up, but set an example. "We're at the wheel," said Minister Klöckner. The German government, industry and civil society are working together in an exemplary manner in the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture laid the foundation stone for GISCO in 2011.

The minister went on to say that sustainable cocoa needed to be regulated. GISCO and its members have already achieved a great deal. The proportion of sustainably produced cocoa is already 55% of confectionery sales in Germany. In the medium term, however, all cocoa must be produced sustainably. "Certified cocoa must be free of abusive child labour," said Federal Minister Klöckner.

Photo: German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa/ Benjamin Pritzkuleit