Over two days, decision-makers from European institutions, the United Nations, national governments, chocolate manufacturers, sustainability experts, farmers’ organisations and NGOs will convene with one shared objective: to shape a more resilient, responsible and future-ready cocoa sector.
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The meeting comes at a critical moment for the industry, as climate pressure, evolving sustainability expectations and tightening regulatory frameworks converge. This year’s Partnership Meeting will also mark the launch of WCF’s newly refined strategy, signalling a more focused, action-oriented approach to climate resilience, cocoa disease management, traceability and regulatory readiness.
Leadership from Across the Cocoa Value Chain
Senior public- and private-sector leaders from key producing and consuming countries will take part, underscoring the growing urgency for alignment across the cocoa value chain. The programme features high-level participation from West Africa, Latin America and Europe, alongside senior officials from the European Commission and the Government of the Netherlands.
Discussions will be moderated by Henry Bonsu, UK journalist and international broadcaster, whose experience includes moderating high-level policy and sustainability forums for the United Nations. Fluent in French and German, Bonsu brings deep expertise in facilitating complex, multi-stakeholder dialogue.
Alongside the main programme, WCF will host a special reception, Women at the Heart of Sustainable Cocoa: Celebrating the International Year of Women Farmers, sponsored by Hershey. Declared by the United Nations, the International Year of Women Farmers recognises the essential role women play in sustainable food systems, climate resilience and rural livelihoods.
Spotlight Panel: The Next Frontier — Biodiversity in Cocoa Landscapes
One of the most closely watched breakout sessions will be 'The Next Frontier: Biodiversity in Cocoa Landscapes', reflecting the sector’s growing focus on nature-positive outcomes beyond carbon and deforestation.
With biodiversity-related compliance potentially on the horizon through legislation such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the session will explore how companies can move from intention to implementation. Experts in policy, science, markets and on-the-ground delivery will examine scalable, credible and practical approaches to measuring, reporting and embedding biodiversity into corporate and regulatory frameworks.
Exclusive: Cordillera Chocolate's Jorge León on Biodiversity as the Next Sustainability Imperative
Speaking exclusively to cocoaradar.com, Jorge León, B2B Sustainability Manager at Cordillera Chocolate, underlined why biodiversity is rapidly becoming central to cocoa sustainability strategies.
“Biodiversity right now is becoming more relevant not only in Colombia, not only for Nacional de Chocolates or Cordillera, but for the entire industry,” he says.
León says biodiversity is the next major evolution in sustainability thinking—one that must involve corporations, farmers and the wider supply chain.
“Biodiversity is the next big thing in terms of sustainability strategies and sustainability responsibility - from the corporate point of view, from the farmers’ point of view, and from the industry’s point of view.”
Crucially, León stresses that the panel will focus on initiatives already underway, rather than abstract concepts. “My aim is to share things that already happened – materialised initiatives – not only ideas, but something that is already in motion. It’s absolutely relevant to take biodiversity to WCF and speak about this, because not every company understands how to go from intention to action.”
His message to the cocoa and chocolate industry is unequivocal - and says true sustainability extends beyond compliance or declarations. “It’s not only taking care of the trees or the forest; it’s taking care of the entire life embedded in the plantation - the plants, the animals, everything. It’s not only about declaration. It’s about action.”
His message to other organisations and companies is that sustainability should be one of the main ingredients of your business - not only chocolate as an ingredient, but sustainability as an ingredient.
“When we talk about sustainable cocoa, everybody needs to act towards the ecosystem - cultivating and harvesting cocoa in a responsible way. This is a call to action for every actor in the supply chain.”
Brazil in Focus: CocoaAction Brasil Session
In addition to the main WCF programme, CocoaAction Brasil will host a dedicated Brazil Session on Thursday, 19 February 2026, from 08:30 to 11:30, at the Beurs van Berlage, Administratiezaal, in central Amsterdam. Register here.
The session will showcase ongoing projects and perspectives from across the Brazilian cocoa chain, highlighting success stories that are already delivering positive change and sustainable impact. International guests will gain insight into Brazil’s evolving cocoa landscape, its ambitions toward 2030, and emerging opportunities for collaboration, investment and partnership.
Designed as a networking and knowledge-sharing forum, the Brazil Session aims to connect Brazilian and global stakeholders, exchange ideas and strengthen Brazil’s role in driving innovation and sustainability within the global cocoa sector.
CocoaRadar's Bottom Line
With its refined strategy, strong government participation and a clear emphasis on action over rhetoric, the WCF Partnership Meeting 2026 signals a decisive moment for the cocoa sector. From biodiversity and climate resilience to gender inclusion and regional leadership, Amsterdam will host conversations that are set to shape cocoa’s future - well beyond the conference rooms.
- cocoaradar.com is an accredited media outlet for the WCFPM