News update 05/20/2026

I am more than glad to inform you that the full program of the Round Table Cocoa Hamburg is now available on the website.

In five thematic blocks the 2026 program sets the focus on:

(1) Selecting and breeding for natural cacao disease resistance
(2) Mitigation of Cocoa Bean Contaminants
(3) Flavor Quality of Cocoa Beans and Liquor
(4) Cocoa cultivation - From scientific trials to improved planting material and farming practices

(5) From single tree to country-wide surveys - monitoring options for CSSVD

Interested but not yet registered?

Registration is free of charge and possible directly via the website of the Round Table Cocoa.

I would be more than glad to welcome you in June to Hamburg. With kind regards,

Daniel Kadow

 

News update 09/17/2025

We are pleased to announce that the 12th Round Table Cocoa Hamburg will take place on 11 and 12 June 2026, under the theme:

"Collaborating for Sustainable Cocoa Production - How interdisciplinary projects help to strengthen cacao cultivation, to improve flavor quality and to solve food safety challenges".
 

Initial information about the program can be found in the announcement flyer.

The video recordings of 11th Round Table Cocoa Hamburg can still be watched using the following link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLppMSYZ3ghS6rpTyM_LFHR7QPfWYumHrx
 

I am very much looking forward to welcoming you in Hamburg.

With my best Regards,
Dr. Daniel Kadow

 


 

Key topics

Representatives from leading Universities present their current research surrounding the resource cocoa. The key topics of the Round Table Cocoa Hamburg are cocoa bean quality, primary post-harvest processing and improved planting systems.

Cocoa bean quality

  • Classical and new quality assessment methods
  • Taste-active substances and their precursors
  • Aroma-active substances and their precursors
  • Fine flavor substances
  • Substances with off-flavor
  • Cocoa sensory evaluation
  • Cocoa butter attributes
  • Traceability
  • Changes in quality during transport and storage
  • Contaminants

Primary post-harvest processing

  • Traditional and new fermentation and drying processes
  • Fruit pulp biochemical changes during fermentation
  • Microbial development during fermentation
  • Microbial development during drying
  • Starter cultures
  • Cocoa bean biochemical changes during fermentation
  • Cocoa bean biochemical changes during drying
  • Cocoa bean / nib biochemical changes during roasting
  • Off-flavor substance formation during fermentation and drying

Planting systems for the future

  • Climate change resilient planting systems
  • Cocoa genetic diversity
  • Natural genetic tolerance and resistance to diseases
  • Natural genetic resilience to abiotic stress, e.g., temperature, nutrient deficiency, etc.
  • Genetic impact on the sensory quality
  • Multi-cropping and agroforestry systems
  • Large-scale plantations and mechanization
  • Improved natural pollination
  • Soil fertility management
  • Disease prevention and monitoring
  • Integrated crop protection
  • Contaminants management

Impressions

  • Keynote by Aldo Christiano from the German Cocoa and Chocolate Foundation
  • Moderator and Organizer Dr. Daniel Kadow led through program and discussions
  • Auditorium was more crowded than ever
  • The Round Table Cocoa Hamburg showed once again, that there are plenty things to discuss and to push forward

Speakers 2026

Representatives of leading universities and companies

David Guest AM

David Guest AM

Institution: Professor of Plant Pathology, The University of Sydney, Australia

Resistance genes fighting farmer poverty - Disease resistant cocoa trees contribute to sustainable production and higher family incomes.

Ana Zotta Mota

Ana Zotta Mota

Institution: Plant Bioinformatics, Nestlé Research

Genetic Diversity to Genomic Selection: A Cocoa Case Study

Prof. Dr. Judith K. Brown

Prof. Dr. Judith K. Brown

Institution: Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA

Time-course infection of Theobroma cacao ‘Amelonado’ by Cacao swollen shoot virus: Large and small RNA profiling reveals the temporally dynamic responsiveness of general and virus-specific defense and metabolic pathway genes.

Dr. Martin Seifert

Dr. Martin Seifert

Institution: Sr. Science & Technology Advisor, 10x Genomics, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands

Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics platforms enabling high-resolution maps of plant tissues, cell types, and molecular interaction mechanisms - new opportunities for plant pathology?

Marc Joncheere

Marc Joncheere

Institution: Senior expert on pesticides and contaminants at Cargill, Belgium

Plugging science into the pesticide & contaminant regulatory changes.

Prof. Dr. Giorgia Purcaro

Prof. Dr. Giorgia Purcaro

Institution: Analytical Chemistry Lab, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Belgium

MOSH and MOAH screening method for jute bags - Towards a reliable and simplified method to rapidly control MOSH and MOAH in jute bags by HPTLC.

Dr. Jeroen Peters

Dr. Jeroen Peters

Institution: Bioassays & Biosensors, Wageningen Food Safety Research

The challenge for rapid MOAH screening: from GC-MS reference methods to a handheld, field-deployable test format.

Michiel Kokken

Michiel Kokken

Institution: Global Head of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Cocoa, Ofi, Netherlands

MOSH / MOAH analytics – Integral part of the Roadmap for minimizing MOH contamination in the cocoa supply chain.

Dr. David Gopaulchan

Dr. David Gopaulchan

Institution: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

Harnessing microbial networks to enhance chocolate quality and flavour -Using genome-resolved metagenomics and synthetic microbial consortia to decode and control cocoa fermentation, enabling reproducible chocolate flavour production.

Dr. ir. Zoi Papalexandratou

Dr. ir. Zoi Papalexandratou

Institution: Lead Cocoa Advisor, ZOTO, Belgium

Cacao post-harvest processing: from tradition to modernization and its role to quality diversification. Science-driven tweaks on post-harvest practices for commercial cocoa quality diversification and new market reach.

Dr. Lotte Woittiez

Dr. Lotte Woittiez

Institution: Assistant Professor Plant Production Systems, Wageningen University, the Netherlands

Fertile soils, resilient cocoa farms - Lessons learned from five years of CocoaSoils trials.

Dr. Luis Orozco

Dr. Luis Orozco

Institution: Agroforesteria y Mejoramiento Genético de Café y Cacao, Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica

Assessing the agronomic performance of climate change resilient planting systems across 10 Latin American Countries. A decade of joint research.

Yasmina Frey

Yasmina Frey

Institution: University of Freiburg

The ECOvette: An interface for minimal-invasive long-term monitoring of plant dynamics.

Dr. Christian Bunn

Dr. Christian Bunn

Institution: Alliance Bioversity-CIAT

Experiences, challenges and current progress in data-driven decision-making for climate-resilient cocoa value chains.

Professor Ruben Sakrabani

Professor Ruben Sakrabani

Institution: Professor of Soil Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, United Kingdom

Impact of organo-mineral fertiliser applications for sustainable cocoa yield in West Africa

Mag. Janik Deutscher

Mag. Janik Deutscher

Institution: Joanneum Research Digital, Graz, Austria

Space-Based Vitality & Disease Monitoring for Cocoa: ESA Sentinel satellites safeguarding West African plantations - Real-time monitoring meets AI.

Thorsten Tybussek

Thorsten Tybussek

Institution: Gruppenleitung Monitoring Qualitätsveränderungen, Fraunhofer-Institut für Verfahrenstechnik und Verpackung IVV

Low-cost multispectral cameras in the cocoa value chain.

Michael Geary

Michael Geary

Institution: Director, Cocoa Crop Science, Mondelez International

Screening for CSSV severity and rate of infection using remote digital tools.

Sanja Fabrio

Sanja Fabrio

Institution: SwissDeCode

From single tree to country-wide surveys - monitoring options for CSSVD.

Mirjam Pulleman

Mirjam Pulleman

Institution: The Alliance of Bioversity-CIAT, Colombia

Leveraging soil and cocoa bean cadmium maps to inform integrated action plans for the mitigation of heavy metals in cacao.

Registration

Participation is free of charge.

To register for the 12th Round Table Cocoa Hamburg, please fill in the form.

Please note that registration closes 14 days before the event.

Get together

On the evening before the Round Table Cocoa, we offer the opportunity to discuss current cocoa topics with participants and presenters over drinks and finger food.

Dinner

In the evening of the first day of the Symposium, participants and presenters traditionally meet for dinner in a comfortable and inspiring atmosphere to discuss the topics of the day.

Schedule

sessions, panel discussions

17:00pm - 20:00pm CEST

Get Together


Location: Bucerius Law School, Helmut Schmidt Auditorium

08:00am CEST

Registration

09:30 - 10:00 CEST

Welcome Note

Collaborating for Sustainable Cocoa Production: How interdisciplinary projects help to strengthen cacao cultivation, to improve flavor quality and to solve food safety challenges

Topic Block 1

Selecting and breeding for natural cacao disease resistance

10:00 - 10:40 CEST

Presentation

Resistance genes fighting farmer poverty - Disease resistant cocoa trees contribute to sustainable production and higher family incomes. Identifying disease resistance genes helps to develop improved varieties that reduce farmer labour, costs and yield losses.
David I. Guest AM, Professor of Plant Pathology, The University of Sydney, Australia

10:40 - 11:20 CEST

Presentation

Genetic Diversity to Genomic Selection: A Cocoa Case Study
Ana Zotta Mota, Plant Bioinformatics, Nestlé Research

11:20 - 12:00 CEST

Presentation

Time-course infection of Theobroma cacao ‘Amelonado’ by Cacao swollen shoot virus: Large and small RNA profiling reveals the temporally dynamic responsiveness of general and virus-specific defense and metabolic pathway genes.
Prof. Dr. Judith K. Brown, Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA

12:00 - 12:40 CEST

Presentation

Single-Cell and Spatial Technologies: New Possibilities for Plant Research; Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics platforms enabling high-resolution maps of plant tissues, cell types, and molecular interaction mechanisms - new opportunities for plant pathology?
Dr. Martin Seifert, Sr. Science & Technology Advisor, 10x Genomics, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands

12:40 - 13:00 CEST

Poster slam

13:00 - 14:00 CEST

Poster exhibition and lunch break

Topic Block 2

Mitigation of Cocoa Bean Contaminants

14:00 - 14:40 CEST

Presentation

Plugging science into the pesticide & contaminant regulatory changes. How to best anticipate on upcoming EU changes on pesticides and contaminants, and at the same time use science-based argumentations to combine the equilibrium between stringent food safety compliance requirements and fluid trade & product flows.
Marc Joncheere, Senior expert on pesticides and contaminants at Cargill, Belgium

14:40 - 15:40 CEST

Podium Discussion

From detection to mitigation - new screening methods for MOSH and MOAH in the cocoa supply chain

14:40 - 15:40 CEST

Panelist Presentation

MOSH and MOAH screening method for jute bags - Towards a reliable and simplified method to rapidly control MOSH and MOAH in jute bags by HPTLC.
Prof. Dr. Giorgia Purcaro, Analytical Chemistry Lab, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Belgium

14:40 - 15:40 CEST

Panelist Presentation

The challenge for rapid MOAH screening: from GC-MS reference methods to a handheld, field-deployable test format
Dr. Jeroen Peters, Bioassays & Biosensors, Wageningen Food Safety Research

14:40 - 15:40 CEST

Panelist Presentation

MOSH / MOAH analytics – Integral part of the Roadmap for minimizing MOH contamination in the cocoa supply chain.
Michiel Kokken, Global Head of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Cocoa, Ofi, Netherlands

15:40 - 16:10 CEST

Poster exhibition and coffee break

Topic Block 3

Flavor Quality of Cocoa Beans and Liquor

16:10 - 16:50 CEST

Presentation

Harnessing microbial networks to enhance chocolate quality and flavour - Using genome-resolved metagenomics and synthetic microbial consortia to decode and control cocoa fermentation, enabling reproducible chocolate flavour production.
Dr. David Gopaulchan, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

16:50 - 17:30 CEST

Evening Lecture

Cacao post-harvest processing: from tradition to modernization and its role to quality diversification. Science-driven tweaks on post-harvest practices for commercial cocoa quality diversification and new market reach.
Dr. Zoi Papalexandratou, Lead Cocoa Advisor, ZOTO, Belgium

17:30 CEST

End of Day 1

18:30 - 22:30 CEST

Round Table Dinner

At Restaurant Stricker´s, Kehr-Wieder-Spitze, Am Sandtorkai 77, 20457 Hamburg

Topic Block 4

Cocoa cultivation - From scientific trials to improved planting material and farming practices

08:45 - 09:25 CEST

Presentation

Fertile soils, resilient cocoa farms - Lessons learned from five years of CocoaSoils trials. Without nutrients, cocoa trees grow poorly, produce few pods, and are susceptible to pests, diseases and droughts. What are good integrated soil fertility management strategies to improve cocoa farm resilience and produce high-quality beans?
Dr. Lotte Woittiez, Assistant Professor Plant Production Systems, Wageningen University, the Netherlands

09:25 - 10:05 CEST

Presentation

Assessing the agronomic performance of climate change resilient planting systems across 10 Latin American Countries. A decade of joint research.
Dr. Luis Orozco, Agroforesteria y Mejoramiento Genético de Café y Cacao, Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica

10:05 - 10:45 CEST

Presentation

The ECOvette: An interface for minimal-invasive long-term monitoring of plant dynamics.
Yasmina Frey, University of Freiburg

10:45 - 11:45 CEST

Podium Discussion

Sensor networks for real-time monitoring of cacao planting system functioning.
Panelists: Dr. Christian Bunn, Alliance Bioversity-CIAT | Dr. Lotte Woittiez, Wageningen University | Dr. Luis Orozco, Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza CATIE | Yasmina Frey, University of Freiburg | Professor Ruben Sakrabani, Professor of Soil Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, United Kingdom

11:45 - 12:00 CEST

Poster Slam

12:00 - 13:00 CEST

Poster exhibition and lunch break

Topic Block 5

From single tree to country-wide surveys - monitoring options for CSSVD

13:00 - 13:30 CEST

Presentation

Space-Based Vitality & Disease Monitoring for Cocoa: ESA Sentinel satellites safeguarding West African plantations - Real-time monitoring meets AI.
Mag. Janik Deutscher, Joanneum Research Digital, Graz, Austria

13:30 - 14:00 CEST

Presentation

Low-cost multispectral cameras in the cocoa value chain.
Thorsten Tybussek, Gruppenleitung Monitoring Qualitätsveränderungen, Fraunhofer-Institut für Verfahrenstechnik und Verpackung IVV

14:00 - 14:40 CEST

Podium Discussion

From single tree to country-wide surveys - monitoring options for CSSVD.
Panelists: Sanja Fabrio, SwissDeCode | Mag. Janik Deutscher, Joanneum Research Digital | Thorsten Tybussek, Fraunhofer-Institut für Verfahrenstechnik und Verpackung IVV | Michael Geary, Director, Cocoa Crop Science, Mondelez International

14:40 - 15:20 CEST

Presentation

Leveraging soil and cocoa bean cadmium maps to inform integrated action plans for the mitigation of heavy metals in cacao.
Mirjam Pulleman, The Alliance of Bioversity-CIAT, Colombia

15:20 - 15:30 CEST

Wrap Up and Farewell

15:30 CEST

End of the 12th Round Table Cocoa Hamburg

The 13th Round Table Cocoa Hamburg will take place in June 2028.

Testimonials

The Round Table Cocoa is a "must attend" for the cocoa research world. The mix of world class speakers, presentation of new research, and discussions on relevant topics in an attractive city make this event extremely worthwhile. Martin Gilmour
Institution: Barry Callebaut
The Round Table Cocoa provides an excellent venue where all levels of the chocolate industry and research can interact. It allowed me the opportunity to engage and interact with European stakeholders, share research results and realize future research needs. Lyndel Meinhardt
Institution: USDA
From a local platform on cocoa-related crop biology the Round Table Cocoa Hamburg has developed into a national and now international forum on interdisciplinary cocoa research. State-of-the-Art specialist lectures and global network contacts make this congress indispensable for cocoa experts. Dr. Rodger Wegner
Institution: WGA Hamburg
The Round Table Cocoa Hamburg is a great quality conference which provides the opportunity to connect and network. The possibilities to learn and interact during the coffee and lunch breaks, poster sessions and the 2 social evenings made it a well worth while event to attend. Brigitte Laliberté
Institution: Bioversity international
The Round Table Cocoa is a very important pillar on the cocoa agenda. It provides an excellent overview on recent research questions and innovative approaches, and enables intensive network building between research and industry through fruitful exchange and discussion. It is an absolute must for everybody working in the cocoa sector. Susanne Miescher-Schwenninger
Institution: ZHAW
The Round Table Cocoa is a unique opportunity to: build networks with actors from cocoa industry and research; get informed about interesting ongoing cocoa research projects; discuss current challenges regarding cocoa bean quaility Corinna Schoppe
Institution: Bohnkaf-Kolonial
For me the Round Table Cocoa has been once again one of the best opportunities to discuss news and recent challenges of the cocoa supply chain and develop strategies to meet those challenges. Besides high quality talks and insights, network building with the international participants is the best answer to our questions arising from the daily work with cocoa. Hauke Will
Institution: Ritter Sport

Runder Tisch Kakao

Networking platform

Meet the most important members of the international cocoa business.

Recent scientific progress

Get up to date about the recent German and international scientific cocoa projects

Main research topics in the future

Where will the journey lead us? Use the opportunity and discuss recent problems!

New research projects

Be part oft he process when new research projects are initiated!

Patronat and main sponsor

Strategic Partner

  • Logo stm | science technology media
  • Logo Universität Hamburg | Der Forschung | Der Lehre | Der Bildung
  • Schweizerische Stiftung der Kakao- und Schokoladewirtschaft
  • Logo BUCERIUS EDUCATION GMBH - BUCERIUS CONFERENCE & EVENT MANAGEMENT
  • Logo Infopoint - Kakao und mehr
  • Logo PETER HAUFFE Markenentwicklung
  • Logo Forschungskreis der Ernährungsindustrie e.V.
  • Logo CAOBISCO
  • Logo Cocoa of Excellence Programme
  • Logo eca - european cocoa association
  • Logo incocoa
  • Logo World Cocoa Foundation
  • Logo PROJEKT 77 Internetlösungen


Interested in a sponsorship? Contact us!

Organizer & Event location

Founder

Prof. em. Dr. Reinhard Lieberei, Founder of the Round Table Cocoa Hamburg

Organizer

Dr. Daniel Kadow, mail: daniel.kadow@rundertischkakao.deDirector Program and Organization

Stephan Musiol, fon: +49 175 - 560 66 18, mail: kontakt@rundertischkakao.de, Director public relations

Dr. Helena Everaert, mail: Helena.everaert@rundertischkakao.de, Vice Director Program and Posters

Moderator

Dr. Daniel Kadow

Travel information

By plane: Please use the Metroline S1 to Hamburg Mainstation and change to S11/S31 to Hamburg Dammtor. The Bucerius Law School is only 500m from Dammtor.

By car: Please use the underground parking Messe-Ost.

By train: If you travel via Hamburg Mainstation please use Metroline S11/S31 to Hamburg Dammtor.

Event location
Bucerius Law School


Bucerius Law School (BLS)

– Helmut Schmidt Auditorium –

Jungiusstraße 6

20355 Hamburg


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