Cocoa Innovation Center participates in ExpoCacau 2026

The Cocoa Innovation Center (CIC) is participating in ExpoCacau 2026 in Ilhéus, Brazil. The event, held from August 25 to 27, focuses on providing opportunities for producers and professionals within the cocoa and chocolate supply chains.

Key activities at the CIC booth include receiving samples for the National Special Cocoa Contest of Brazil, which concludes its registration period on August 28. The contest evaluates cocoa beans based on physical, sensory, and sustainability criteria across Mixture and Varietal categories.

Additionally, the CIC is promoting the AgroCIC project, which aims to convert degraded areas into agroforestry systems combining cocoa, acai, banana, and forest species. Supported by the Arapyaú Institute, the project has invested over R$1.6 million and planted more than 100,000 seedlings in southern Bahia. The center is also offering specialized training courses in cocoa classification and fermentation.