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What To Expect

For thousands of years the Mayans in the Belize region have produced world-class noble cocoa. Belize is the birthplace of the noble cacao varieties Criollo and Trinitario.

Belize has some of the best cacao in the world and the world wants our chocolate. But for years, a steady, reliable channel to market has not existed. Now it does and it is time to put Belize and Belizean fine flavor, organic cacao back on the map!

We are extremely proud to announce the first ever Belize Sustainable Specialty Agriculture Symposium, presented by Peini Cacao Plantation Ltd, an AgroNosotros Company.

A first of its kind event in Belize.

We are inviting YOU if you are a chocolate maker, chocolatier, cacao or chocolate writer, blogger or podcast host. Pastry chefs, bakers and anyone who LOVES chocolate and wants to get Belizean cacao back to where it belongs.

This unique 4-day event will re-introduce you, and the world, to the Fine Flavor Cacao and Chocolate industry that we are reinvigorating in Belize.

You will learn about our Environmentally and Socially sustainable projects that make a real difference to the lives of the Maya cacao farmers. Supplying a buyer for their beans and putting cash in their pockets. Providing on-going training and Organic certification as well as FREE cacao saplings!

Fine Flavor Organic Cacao

Direct Trade & Central Processing

Fully Vertically Integrated

Keynote Speaker

Werner Rüegsegger

CEO Swiss-Candy – Switzerland

Consulting in different countries, Werner is an expert in “Bean to Bar” single origin chocolate manufacturing. Having developed new products in Bakery, Confectonary, Confiserie and Chocolaterie Management. 

Guest Speaker

Andres Lopez

VP Agriculture – Panama

28 years of experience in the coffee industry developing coffee farming processes, planning, development and implementing eco-friendly coffee farms. His experience also encompasses direct farm personnel management, increasing farm utilization and profitability, inventory and warehouse controls, product quality control, milling and roasting processes. He joins us in Belize applying his knowledge to “Our Art Of Cacao Science”.

Armando Choco

Executive Chocolate Maker 

Luis Armando Choco brings 15 years of experience in all aspects of the cacao and chocolate making process from “seed to chocolate”.

Jacques Cöp

Chocolate Maker, CocoCaravan – Stroud, United Kingdom

The esteemed man behind CocoCaravan.co.uk, a unique raw and vegan chocolate company, joins us to share “The Life and Business of a Successful Raw and Vegan Chocolate Maker”.

Oliver Van Nueten

Chocolatier, Van Nueten Chocolates – Belgium

The 20-year-old is the youngest Master Chocolatier in Belgium and owner of Van Nueten Chocolates, a young and already highly demanded company specializing in chocolate sculptures. Oliver is truly an artisan.

Speakers from the AgroNosotros Team

Socially, Environmentally & Economically Sustainable

David Sewell

CEO & Founder

Darren Doyle

President & Co-Founder

Agenda

Thursday May 9 – Symposium Day

We kick off with an exciting day of international speakers from Belize, Panama, Switzerland, Canada & Ireland.

Included in this year’s lineup are:

Werner Rüegsegger, our Keynote Speaker from Switzerland who will present intriguing insights about Specialty Agriculture & Artisanal Chocolate from 45 years of experience.

Andres Lopez, our 1st Guest Speaker from Panama will enlighten you with his thoughts on “The Art Of Cacao Science”.

In the afternoon you can enjoy a tour of the newly built Peini Factory.

We wrap up Day 1 with a catered “BBQ Fiesta at the Factory”!

Friday May 10 – Peini Farm Tours and Maya Culture Day

Day 2 is all about seeing where chocolate starts. We will provide transportation along with guides to visit our Columbia cacao farm and our San Antonio cacao farm. You will learn the history of these farms, how we developed them and how we care for and manage the cacao trees.

You will also be treated to an afternoon excursion to Lubaantum, one of the several ancient Mayan Ruins in Belize.

Saturday May 11 – Peini Nursery & BCT Depot Tour Day

On Day 3 you will take the next step in your Belizean cacao journey where you get to visit our proprietary fermentation & drying depot capable of producing 80 tonnes of dried cacao beans annually.

You will also enjoy a tour of the Peini 50,000 cacao seedling nursery.

We finish the day with a “Rock to the Garifuna Drums” party on the Factory Greens.

Sunday May 12 – Farmers Recognition Day

After 3 busy days filled with engaging talks and exciting tours Day 4 is a bit more relaxing yet sure to be interesting.

All our attendees will get a chance to meet some of our ever-growing family of 204 cacao farmers at our “Farmers Appreciation Party” hosted on the Factory Greens.  Symposium attendees can learn from our farmers what it takes at origin to produce fine flavor organic cacao.  You will also learn how Peini Cacao and our social sustainability programs are resulting in real positive changes for our farmers and their families.

We would be nowhere without our farmers and connecting you in the global chocolate world with the genuine people at origin is what Peini Cacao is here to do.

Pricing

Students & Millenials Pricing

Standard Price

After March 1st
$295/person
  • Ages 25 and under. Proof of student ID required
  • Attendees are responsible for their own travel arrangements to and from Punta Gorda, Belize and hotel expenses.
  • Symposium will host daily lunch, evening meals, select entertainment, ground transportation during symposium refreshments and light snacks.

Adults Pricing

Standard Price

After March 1st
$495/person
  • Over 25 years of age
  • Attendees are responsible for their own travel arrangements to and from Punta Gorda, Belize and hotel expenses.
  • Symposium will host daily lunch, evening meals, select entertainment, ground transportation during symposium refreshments and light snacks.

The Location

After arriving in the Belize City International Airport (PGIA) you will enjoy a 45 minute spectacularly scenic local flight to Punta Gorda Town, Toledo in Southern Belize, the home of Peini Cacao.

Join In

If you are a chocolate maker, chocolatier, cacao or chocolate writer, blogger or podcast host, pastry chef, baker, restaurant owner or a cacao industry professional, in other words anyone who LOVES chocolate. You are invited to attend.

Submit the form below to let us know you would like to attend

You can also contact us at info@peinicacaosymposium.com.

Latest Updates

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