Costa Rica to Host the International Cacao Congress 2025, the Sweetest and Most Sustainable Gathering in Latin America

• Event will bring together more than 30 speakers from over 15 countries in science, innovation, and tradition to promote cacao

From October 7 to 9, the CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) campus will host the International Cacao Congress 2025, a gathering that will bring together more than 30 international speakers from over 15 countries and more than 100 participants from Latin America and the Caribbean. The event combines science, innovation, and tradition to foster a more sustainable and competitive cacao sector.

The Congress will address strategic issues for the future of cacao, such as genetic diversity and breeding, productivity and resilience to climate change, agroforestry systems as drivers of environmental sustainability, bioeconomy and fair income, as well as the socio-cultural value of cacao in producing communities. This comprehensive approach will allow participants to learn about scientific innovations, success stories, and market opportunities that will shape the path toward a fairer, more profitable, and sustainable cacao sector.

Key speakers include Mr. Albert Scalla from StoneX Trading, who will provide updates on trends and patterns in cacao consumption, trade, exports, and pricing worldwide; Mr. Javier Méndez Blanco from the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (Costa Rica), with a presentation on the socio-cultural value of cacao in Mesoamerica; Dr. Siela Maximova from Pennsylvania State University (USA), who will share the latest advances in genetic diversity and breeding; Dr. Eduardo Somarriba, senior researcher at CATIE (Costa Rica), who will discuss global agroforestry policies for cacao; and Claire Biason-Lohier from The Voice Network, who will present the much-anticipated Latin America Cacao Barometer 2025.

“The Congress will be a unique space to learn, connect, and discover where we are heading as a sector. Here, alliances will be built, knowledge will be exchanged, and actions will be defined so that cacao continues to be a driver of sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Dr. Luis Orozco, coordinator of the International Cacao Congress 2025.

The event will also include keynote lectures, poster presentations, and field trips, among them a visit to CATIE’s International Cacao Collection, recognized as one of the most important in Latin America. With more than 80 years of history and 1,200 accessions from over 20 countries, this collection has been key in the development of resistant, productive, and high-quality cacao clones that benefit producers throughout the region.

To facilitate participation by producers and students, special rates are available for this sector (USD $420 + VAT with valid identification). In addition, those unable to travel to Costa Rica will have the option to connect virtually to the event for USD $50, gaining access to the opening session and keynote lectures.

The International Cacao Congress 2025 is organized by CATIE and aims to strengthen the development, modernization, and sustainability of the cacao sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. For more information, agenda, and registration, please visit congresocacao.catie.ac.cr