Queen Mathilde urged delegates at the World Cocoa Conference in Brussels on Monday to ensure fair income for local farmers.
Queen Mathilde highlighted the dismal income that cocoa growers receive, with 90-95% of chocolate's final price being distributed amongst merchants, producers, chocolatiers, and distributors. "Fairness demands an increase in the price paid to cocoa farmers," she outlined.
Drawing from her recent trip to Côte d'Ivoire, the leading cocoa-producing country, the Queen pointed out that fair reward for local producers supports several Sustainable Development Goals, to which all nations are committed under the United Nations.
The aim is not merely to reduce poverty but also to address social and environmental concerns. "Prices and sustainability are two sides of the same coin," she continued.
"Every parent wants the best possible education for their children, and farmers everywhere understand their dependence on nature and biodiversity. But many are too impoverished, faced with the choice of sending their children to work in the fields instead of school, or deforestation instead of preserving the forest."
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The Queen also identified many areas where women's role and skills could be better recognised and appreciated, whether in cocoa production, post-harvest handling or marketing.
Renowned in the cocoa and chocolate industry, the World Cocoa Conference will continue until Wednesday in Brussels. It brings together 1,000 sector professionals, including cocoa farmers, cooperatives, exporters, traders, manufacturers, brands and retailers. The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) has entitled this fifth edition 'Paying more for sustainable cocoa'.
