International Cocoa Organization facts for kids

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) is a worldwide group of countries that both grow and use cocoa. Cocoa is the main ingredient in chocolate! The ICCO was started in 1973 in London, England. Its goal was to put into action the first International Cocoa Agreement, which was a plan made in Geneva at a special meeting called the United Nations International Cocoa Conference.

Since then, there have been seven of these agreements. The newest one, the Seventh International Cocoa Agreement, was agreed upon in Geneva in 2010. It officially started on October 1, 2012.

The ICCO is like a meeting place for everyone involved in the global cocoa business. They talk about important topics related to buying and selling cocoa around the world. The ICCO is also a top source for cocoa facts and figures, with information going back almost 70 years. They also help by studying the cocoa market, predicting future trends, and creating projects to help their member countries grow and improve.

ICCO member countries produce about 86% of the world's cocoa and use over 72% of it. All members have a say in the International Cocoa Council, which is the main decision-making group of the ICCO.

What is the ICCO?

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) was created in 1973. Its main purpose was to put into action the first International Cocoa Agreement. This agreement was a plan for how countries would work together on cocoa. The ICCO brings together countries that grow cocoa and countries that buy and use it.

The ICCO used to be based in London, England. However, on September 25, 2015, the International Cocoa Council decided to move the ICCO's main office to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. This move was made so the organization could be closer to the main cocoa-growing regions.

The reason the ICCO was first in London is interesting. In the 1800s, Quaker business people got involved in the cocoa trade. They worked to make chocolate and cocoa affordable for everyone. They also tried to improve working conditions for factory workers.

How the ICCO is Managed

The ICCO has a special team called the Secretariat. This team is in charge of carrying out the organization's five-year plan. The Secretariat works from the ICCO's headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

The Secretariat reports to the International Cocoa Council, which is the highest authority. Other groups, like the Administration and Finance Committee, the Economic Committee, and the Private Sector (Consultative) Board, all work under the Secretariat.

The Consultative Board is made up of fourteen experts from the cocoa industry. These experts come from private companies, not governments. Seven are from cocoa-producing countries, and seven are from cocoa-consuming countries. This board gives advice on all parts of the world cocoa business. However, the final decisions are always made by the International Cocoa Council. This board was created because the private sector plays a very important role in the world of cocoa.

The ICCO also helps define important terms used in the cocoa industry. This helps everyone understand each other. Some of these terms include: Sustainable Cocoa Economy, Ethical Cocoa, Fine Flavour Cacao, and Cocoa year.

Cocoa Facts and Figures

The ICCO publishes a "Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics" (QBCS). This bulletin provides reliable and up-to-date information about the cocoa industry since 1960. It includes data from both cocoa-producing and cocoa-consuming countries.

According to the ICCO's most recent predictions for the 2023/2024 year, global cocoa production and processing (called "grindings") have decreased. Production went down by 11.7% to 4.461 million tonnes. Grindings went down by 4.3% to 4.855 million tonnes.

Cote d'Ivoire is the world's leading country for growing cocoa. Ghana is the second largest producer. Ghana is known for producing very high-quality cocoa beans. This is partly thanks to the Quality Control Company (QCC), which is part of COCOBOD. COCOBOD has helped Ghana greatly increase its cocoa production with support from the Ghanaian government.

Important Challenges for ICCO

The ICCO is working hard to solve some big problems in West Africa, especially in Ivory Coast and Ghana. These problems include human slavery and child labor. Sadly, some young boys and girls, as young as 12 to 16 years old, are tricked and sold to cocoa farm owners. They are forced to work in the fields or in homes.

In 2001, it was estimated that 40% of the chocolate eaten in developed countries was made using child labor. Up to 1 million children in Ghana and Ivory Coast, some as young as 10, were believed to be working on cocoa farms and had never been to school. The ICCO is working closely with governments in West Africa and other non-profit organizations (NGOs) to stop this child labor and slavery.

To help with this, a new plan was signed on November 27, 2024, in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. The governments of Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and the United States Department of Labor signed this agreement. It aims to work together and speed up efforts to prevent child labor in these major cocoa-producing countries.

ICCO Member Countries

The ICCO has many member countries from all over the world. These include countries that grow cocoa and countries that buy and use it.