One of the greatest advantages of attending the London Chocolate Forum is the chance to network with professionals and enthusiasts from all sectors of the chocolate industry. Whether you are a chocolatier looking to source quality cocoa, a supplier searching for potential clients, or simply a chocolate lover eager to connect with like-minded individuals, this event provides the perfect platform to establish meaningful connections. Engaging in conversations, exchanging ideas, and building relationships can open doors to collaborations, business opportunities, and lifelong friendships. With growing concerns about sustainability and ethical practices within the chocolate industry, the London Chocolate Forum provides a platform to delve into these crucial topics. Attendees can learn about initiatives focused on fair trade, responsible sourcing, environmental conservation, and community development. Discussions and presentations shed light on the challenges faced by cocoa farmers, innovative sustainability practices, and efforts to improve the livelihoods of those involved in the cocoa supply chain. By attending, you can gain a deeper understanding of the impact your choices as a professional can have on the industry and contribute to positive change. Child labor is “an open secret” in the supply chain, Oliver concluded, though he conceded that abolishing it is “really complicated. Child labor in this region is caused by a myriad of issues from poor infrastructure to limited access to education but to a significant extent it is caused by poverty – a poverty that is actively perpetuated by these chocolate companies. And if they really want to remedy things, a good first step would be to pay farmers more. Companies add real value to the process, he noted, “but there are clearly massive disparities in who reaps the benefits of this extremely profitable industry.” Though mechanisms exist to stabilize the division of profit, such as minimum prices for cocoa, they are difficult to enforce and not enough to offset the costs of farming.