Sterker commitment voor duurzame cacao

Toespraak | 24-09-2010

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is wonderful to see you here in Amsterdam today. Only a month ago Amsterdam celebrated its maritime history with a parade of historic sailing ships at Sail Amsterdam.These days the clippers and windjammers have been replaced by container ships and modern cargo vessels. But Amsterdam has reclaimed its title as the world's largest trans-shipment port for cocoa.Twenty-five per cent of all cocoa is processed here. Which explains why, for the average Dutch person, chocolate is the most normal product in the world. We feel we have a serious responsibility towards it as the Netherlands is at the centre of the cocoa world.

And I see this sense of responsibility in the European Cocoa Association too. Your commitment and efforts for the cocoa sector are greatly appreciated across the board. As is your contribution to the debate on sustainability.You bring together the most important people involved in chocolate production around the world and, it must be said, this is not easy with so such a diversity of different countries at the table.Let us not forget that cocoa itself is a versatile product.The many stages between the cocoa bean and the box of chocolates is reflected in the long distances between the two.

The theme of this congress 'Drivers for cocoa sustainability', sits well with our own national efforts for sustainability and for green growth in agriculture. We need it to tackle the serious threat of food insecurity and climate change. But the sub-title of this congress - voluntary versus regulatory measures - is also very interesting.It forces us to look further.And reminds us that sustainability is about consensus and agreement, thinking and doing.This is the pragmatic mentality that we in the Netherlands really understand.I see sustainability as an active concept, a verb, if you will. A password to the future.Because we simply have no choice. By 2050 there will be 9 billion people on this earth.Creating a huge demand for food.I also believe that prosperity will continue to increase, especially in those countries that until recently didn't enjoy a prosperous lifestyle. The demand for chocolate and other cocoa products will rise along with this prosperity and the increasing number of people who can afford them. But can farming cope with it? The answer is no.We all know that traditional production methods are no longer adequate.But we do have chance.Here and now.By creating sustainable chains for cultivation, production and processing. By taking that leap to sustainability.By investing in green agriculture and horticulture.Investment which also comes from governments in developed countries.In my opinion, over the last decade, we have been neglecting agriculture in international politics for sustainable development.

But I do see the beginnings of a paradigm shift. A shift towards more sustainable and resource-efficient and more productive and climate-smart agriculture. I also see that entrepeneurs are ready to take that leap towards sustainability.Corporate Social Responsibility is clearly gaining in popularity.Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability both have their place in a process for which you, as private sector, and I, as government, and the NGOs all bear a responsibility.Corporate Social Responsibility is already an instrument of change.Social and ecological responsibility, as well as economic interests now play a role.But it is also a principle that we cannot avoid.Continuing the lose, lose, win concept for people, planet and profit is no longer an option. It has to become win, win, win.

ur paradigm is already shifting, but what we need now is action to bring together all the challenges in agriculture, food security and climate change. What we need now is a shift in agricultural practice. Enough of words, time for action, should be our motto now. Not only in the Netherlands, but also I Europe and the rest of the world. We don't only have the issues, we have the solutions too.For cocoa we need a stronger commitment.The three million small farmers who produce our cocoa with limited knowledge and means at their disposal, usually accompanied by limited income need this commitment. Moreover, the cocoa bean is susceptible to disease and fungi which can seriously affect its quality, and consequently its production.

What cocoa farmers need is the opportunity to apply fundamental agricultural principles. And the skills to run a business.We can help them achieve this through training and good agricultural practices.Both will contribute to the sustainable production of cocoa, to its quality, to the circumstances of the farmer and to the chain as a whole.

Further along the chain too, in logistics and storage, we can move towards action.By using alternative forms of energy and by making energy savings.Or by applying responsible pesticide management. Finally, the processing and end-product businesses can also do a great deal.They can change to sustainable processes.And these businesses are eminently placed to pass on signals from the consumer to parties in the chain.They know the consumer, and they also know that the consumer is becoming increasingly more interested in how sustainable a product is.I think you should use this to your advantage!The consumer is going through a process of emancipation too.It's been a long time since consumers needed to ask themselves whether this bar of chocolate was safe to eat, or whether using lip balm would bring them out in spots. They know that safety has been well taken care of.What they want is the back-story about cocoa, and preferably a good one.Consumers are increasingly concerned about working conditions and child labour on cocoa plantations.They are more critical than ever before and not only about cocoa, but about the impact of agricultural production on nature and the environment. This is where you in the chain come in.With your tracking and tracing system.Originally this system was needed to ensure food safety in a sector dealing with enormous quantities. But we can put it to much better use.Tracking and tracing enables you to give large groups of people what they want: reliable and detailed information.End-products can be given a new brand identity. For example, a cake with chocolate filling produced by a Ghanaian farmer named Kofi Gyan, who, with the help of the village, treats his cocoa trees with natural pesticides.

These are ideas that we, at international level, can all take up.Another hopeful sign for me was the new cocoa treaty between producing countries and consumer organisations. Such a treaty serves as a keystone of trust between parties in the International Cocoa Organization. Sustainability is an intrinsic part of it, sustainability in production, processing and consumption.This will help us to move forward in the round table meetings.I have offered to hold the next meeting here in the Netherlands.I hope that you will bring your ideas to the table again on that occasion.Please continue to contribute and keep an open dialogue with NGOs.They are of immense value in achieving your goals.And of course I would like you to tell me where the obstacles and the opportunities are.

But what about my contribution in my own country?

We would like our food industry to play an important role in agriculture, and it can.To this end we are asking businesses throughout the chain to sign a declaration committing to sustainable production. A large number of the parties in this room have put their signature to what I would call a milestone: a declaration of intent for totally sustainable cocoa consumption in the Netherlands by 2025.By 2015 the half of our cocoa and chocolate will be guaranteed sustainable. By 2020 it will be 80% and by 2025 100%.As government we support several sustainable initiatives: last week there was a political debate on trade chains organised by the initiative on sustainable trade, het Initiatief Duurzame Handel. Facilitated by us. We are investing in improved production methods. With our buffer stock fund we are investing in research, including ECA research. We enable round tables to take place.We also facilitate round tables for sustainable tea, palm oil and soy.Finally, I would like to mention the public-private partnerships in which we participate. For palm oil and soy this has led to far-reaching agreements. And this includes agreement about the conservation of valuable areas for cultivation, the use of crop protection products and preventing exploitation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to conclude by leaving you with this thought. There are some challenges that only come your way once in a lifetime.The challenge to meet the needs of people and at the same time to have a positive influence on the future of our planet and the world economy is one of these. In December the world community once again must pick up the gauntlet when we meet at the important climate conference in Cancun. I will do my utmost to make agriculture part of this conference.If we don't, then there is not a huge change of success.

If, in the meantime, we do manage to make the cocoa chain sustainable, we, as a society, will be able to build on that.If the foundations, the raw materials, are in good order, the rest of the edifice will be in good shape too.I feel I have a special responsibility here, and with your help I would like to see it given substance.

Thank you.