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 (Full program will follow)

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. Identifying disease resistance genes helps to develop improved varieties that reduce farmer labour, costs and yield losses.

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

Kakao-Nacherntebehandlung: Von Traditionen, Modernisierungen und ihrer Schlüsselrolle für Qualität - Wissenschaftlich fundierte Optimierungen der Nachernteverfahren für die kommerzielle Qualitätsdiversifizierung von Kakao und die Erschließung neuer Märkte.

Marc Joncheere

Marc Joncheere

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

COCOA BEAN QUALITY: 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.

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 for rapidly control MOSH and MOAH method in jute bags by HPTLC.

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.

Poster exhibition

You have the possibility to participate in the exhibition with a poster about ongoing or completed research work as well as project ideas.

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 (Full program will follow)

sessions, panel discussions

17:00pm - 20:00pm CEST

Get Together


Location: Bucerius Law School, Helmut Schmidt Auditorium

08:00am CEST

Registration

09:30am CEST

Start of the 12th Hamburg Cocoa Round Table

17:00pm CEST

End of the first day of the event

18:30pm CEST

Round Table Dinner

08:45am CEST

Start of the second day of the event

15:30pm CEST

End of the 12th Round Table on Cocoa in Hamburg

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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