The event, rescheduled from earlier this year, kicks off the 2026 cocoa conference calendar and marks the organisation’s most ambitious diplomatic effort yet, positioning the UK as a convening hub for sustainability, compliance and value-addition dialogue in the cocoa sector.
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Created to address “resource gaps and sustainability challenges faced by cocoa-producing communities,” the ICD works to amplify the voices of cocoa-growing nations — particularly smallholder farmers — whose contributions underpin a global chocolate market worth an estimated $140 billion. Through a “bottom-up diplomacy” model, the organisation links growers, governments, industry players and civil-society groups to shift the narrative from aid dependency toward self-determination.
A London Forum for a Sector in Flux
Cocoa Beyond Borders: Sustainability, Compliance and the Future of Global Markets brings together senior figures from cocoa production, supply-chain governance, ESG finance and international trade regulation. The forum is capped at 80 delegates by invitiation to encourage candid, solutions-driven discussion.
Headline speakers include:
- HRM Oba Dokun Thompson, ICD founder
- Prince Bimbo Olashore, President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce
- Chantal Coady OBE, chocolate entrepreneur and sustainability advocate
- Ato Boateng and Prof. Tilo Huhn
- Senator Abubakar Kyari has confirmed attendance and will deliver a Keynote Address on 'Reclaiming Value, Shaping Rules: Nigeria's Vision for Cocoa Sovereignity in a Fragmented Trade Order'
The two-day programme features keynote addresses, expert panels and closed-door strategy sessions. Day 1 focuses on EUDR compliance, carbon accounting and the tension between environmental regulation and market protectionism. Day 2 examines trade sovereignty, cocoa futures markets and new South-South alliances reshaping production and processing strategies.
With participation from policymakers, multinational buyers, development finance institutions and craft-chocolate makers, the gathering aims to clarify regulatory expectations while enabling producing countries to negotiate from a position of greater strength.
ICD’s Mission: From Raw Beans to Real Influence
The London conference builds on a series of ICD-led initiatives advocating for value addition at the origin. West Africa produces roughly 70% of the world’s cocoa but retains less than 2% of the final chocolate market’s value. ICD argues that increasing domestic grinding and chocolate manufacturing is essential for job creation, industrial diversification and resilience against commodity price volatility.
This approach was central to the Nigerian edition of the International Cocoa and Chocolate Forum (ICCF) in January 2024, held with the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and the Nigerian Export and Import Bank.
Sustainability, Rights and Compliance
Alongside trade diplomacy, ICD champions sustainable farming, traceability and farmer-centred pricing. The organisation works with research institutes and development partners to improve disease management, address climate vulnerabilities and support remediation systems related to child labour. Its advocacy complements efforts by institutions such as the International Cocoa Initiative while pushing for reforms that ensure farmers meet environmental standards without bearing disproportionate costs.
A Turning Point for Global Cocoa Governance
As cocoa-producing countries navigate shifting regulations — particularly the EU’s anti-deforestation rules — and volatile global prices, ICD positions Cocoa Beyond Borders as a pivotal moment for rebalancing power across the supply chain. By convening decision-makers in London, the organisation aims to create a diplomatic space where producer nations can shape the policies that govern the industry.
Registration for the conference is now open, with tiered pricing: £999 standard admission, £499 for government and non-profit participants, and £350 for small chocolatiers. Admission includes all sessions, documentation, networking lunches, refreshments and an evening reception.
- Visit the website for more information and to register.
For ICD, the goal is clear: elevate cocoa diplomacy, strengthen producer-region agency and help ensure that the countries growing the world’s cocoa capture a fairer share of the value.
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