IN a bid to transform cocoa trading practices and empower farmers across Africa, Dr. Kristy Leissle has unveiled the African Cocoa Marketplace Inc (ACM). This pioneering platform, introduced to industry stakeholders at the esteemed Amsterdam Cocoa Week conference, aims to revolutionise the cocoa industry by placing farmer perspectives and transparency at its core.
‘At ACM, our primary focus is on putting farmers at the centre of the procurement process,’ explains Dr. Kristy Leissle, founder of ACM. ‘By prioritising their voices and needs, we aim to create more secure business relationships and elevate the respect for the women and men who form the backbone of the chocolate value chain.’
Dr. Kristy Leissle, a renowned cocoa consultant, scholar, educator, writer, and marketer for nearly two decades, has launched African Cocoa Marketplace Inc (ACM), driven by her profound understanding of the cocoa industry.
‘I’ve spent a good portion of my career as a field researcher on cocoa farms across Africa, especially in Ghana, where I lived for four years,’ Leissle stated. ‘During this time, I’ve met countless farmers, traders, processors, and chocolate makers who are striving to maintain Africa’s cocoa excellence. However, it’s really challenging for these women and men to showcase that excellence to buyers.’
Founding ACM after years of hands-on experience, Leissle aims to transform her learnings into a scalable business model that fosters authentic visibility into African cocoa value chains. ‘ACM is creating a new model for cocoa trust and traceability,’ she emphasised.
‘The ACM pilot platform can help shape the future of cocoa trading by de-commoditizing cocoa and making the procurement process more transparent,’ Leissle explained, highlighting the platform’s potential to empower farmers and ensure a fairer share of revenue from the sale of their beans.
‘The initiative’s pilot is open to Africa-based suppliers of cocoa, semi-finished products, chocolate, and other value-added products, as well as buyers of cocoa and cocoa products globally,’ Leissle added, emphasising ACM’s inclusive approach to transforming the cocoa industry.
The introduction of ACM at Amsterdam Cocoa Week has generated considerable excitement and recognition within the industry. Stakeholders have lauded it as a ‘fantastic resource for linking markets, farmers, producer organisations, and cocoa operators,’ acknowledging its potential to drive positive change across the cocoa supply chain.
‘As we develop the pilot platform, transparency remains a key priority,’ notes Benjamin Setor Gbadago, who leads ACM’s research and social media endeavours. ‘Our goal is to ensure that both farmers and buyers offer transparency throughout the supply chain. By doing so, we can create a more equitable trading environment that benefits cocoa communities.’
With its emphasis on responsible procurement and fair transactions, ACM is poised to revolutionise the cocoa industry. By providing authentic visibility into African cocoa value chains and establishing new models for trust and traceability, the platform holds the potential to empower farmers and drive sustainable development across the continent.