Chocolate Forever

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The Port of Amsterdam is the largest cocoa harbor globally, with the Zaanstreek region housing a comprehensive cocoa network. Given the significant economic role of cocoa in the Dutch economy and its international supply chain, a robust knowledge infrastructure is essential to support the dynamic cocoa cluster in the Netherlands. In light of challenging economic conditions for cocoa farmers and potential future supply shortages, the sector is mobilizing. Various public and private stakeholders, along with civil society members, are collaborating to enhance sustainability in cocoa production. Knowledge sharing is crucial for this initiative—not only to make processes sustainable but also to identify the knowledge needs of different stakeholders. Currently, the Netherlands lacks a dedicated knowledge infrastructure for cocoa, yet there is considerable potential for generating and sharing sustainable cocoa knowledge, thanks to a vibrant multi-stakeholder community. This initiative to assess knowledge demand and available expertise in the Netherlands is backed by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. It supports the ChocoWorkGroup’s Sustainable Cocoa Actionplan, aiming for sustainable cocoa consumption in the Netherlands within fifteen years and contributing to a global sustainable economy.