Ecuador: at the Fifth World Cocoa Summit in Belgium

The Fifth World Cocoa Summit in Brussels, Belgium, features the participation of an Ecuadorian delegation led by Deputy Minister of Agricultural Productive Development, Esteban del Hierro. Ecuador's achievements in the production of fine aroma cocoa and its position as the third largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans globally are highlighted. The existence of 12,943 hectares of certified cocoa, mostly organic, with the participation of approximately 400,000 people, mainly family workers, is emphasized.

Esteban Del Hierro underscores the importance of this participation as a tool to facilitate access of sustainable Ecuadorian products to the European market, in line with the regulations of the Green Pact. Furthermore, he expresses the Ecuadorian Government's commitment to increasing cocoa production while maintaining standards of fairness and quality for rural communities in the country.

The alignment of these actions with the Sustainable Development Goals is emphasized, and the importance of profitable and sustainable production that preserves the environment and addresses climate change is highlighted.

The increase in cocoa prices in Ecuador:

The rise in cocoa prices in Ecuador was also discussed, urging to seize this moment to reap economic benefits and strengthen the resilience of the sector, inviting members of the International Cocoa Organization to visit Ecuador and learn about sustainable production processes.

Within the framework of the summit, Esteban Del Hierro and representatives of various Ecuadorian entities visited the Primoris Laboratory to strengthen analytical capacity in agricultural research. The deputy minister will continue to participate in the summit until April 26, holding technical meetings with cooperation agencies.