The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has entered into a strategic partnership with Apex Brasil and the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to foster greater collaboration in the cocoa industry.

This agreement was formalized during a key meeting at Cocoa House in Accra, which was part of a Brazilian Presidential Mission to Africa.

Leading the Brazilian delegation, Her Excellency Marirana Madeira, Brazil's Ambassador to Ghana, alongside officials from Apex Brasil and the Ministry of Agriculture, held discussions with COCOBOD's Acting Chief Executive and his team. The talks focused on enhancing technical and economic collaboration between both countries in the cocoa sector.

The agenda centered on utilizing Brazil's technological advancements to boost cocoa productivity, exchanging methods for managing cocoa diseases, and facilitating joint research efforts between Brazil's cocoa industry and Ghana's Cocoa Research Institute (CRIG).

One of the key issues raised during the meeting was the state of the global cocoa market and price fluctuations. The importance of collaboration between the world’s top cocoa producers—Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Brazil, Nigeria, and Ecuador—was also emphasized in order to increase cocoa farmers’ incomes and support sustainable practices within the cocoa sector.

The discussions also delved into potential scientific partnerships, particularly in areas such as cocoa flavor research and disease management, including efforts to combat Witches’ Broom in Brazil and Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) in Ghana.

Additionally, the delegation showed interest in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire’s $400 per tonne Living Income Differential (LID), a model designed to raise cocoa farmers' earnings.

At the conclusion of the meeting, COCOBOD, Apex Brasil, and Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock officially signed the Declaration of Intent, marking a significant step in strengthening ties between Ghana and Brazil while promoting sustainable cocoa farming practices and research cooperation.