Nicko Debenham

Sustainability Advisor

Nicko brings more than 36 years of experience working on cocoa and other raw material value chains. He started his career in cocoa in Nigeria in the 1980’s, working directly with cocoa farmers. Nicko possesses unique expertise in developing and introducing pioneering traceable and sustainable systems in collaboration with governments in origin countries in Africa, Asia and LATAM. Nicko established Sustainability Solutions in 2021 to support companies and institutions with developing and operationalising their sustainability strategy.

A man with slicked-back brown hair wearing a dark suit, light blue checkered shirt, and red patterned tie, standing indoors with a blurred background.

A large pile of harvested cacao pods with yellow, orange, and brown streaks sits under trees in the sunlight, with plastic bins nearby, in an outdoor setting.

Cocoa Tariffs Deepen Crisis for US Chocolate Industry

Insight Focus US tariffs on cocoa imports are reshaping the chocolate ...

A person empties a green crate of harvested cacao pods onto a large pile, with sunlight highlighting the yellow, orange, and green pods scattered on the ground.

EUDR Benchmarking Puts Pressure on Cocoa Trade

Insight Focus The EU has published EUDR country risk ratings. Most coc...

A worker in a hat and orange shirt uses a tool to spread out cocoa beans drying in the sun, with a large pile of beans in the foreground and blurred buildings in the background.

Cocoa Stocks Plunge as 2025 Outlook Remains Bleak

Insight Focus Cocoa prices hit record highs amid crop challenges. Fore...

Close-up of two cacao pods growing on a tree branch; one pod is orange and ripe, while the other is purple and unripe, surrounded by lush green leaves.

Association Raises Cocoa Deficit Estimates to 60-Year High

Insight Focus The International Cocoa Association (ICCO) has increased...

A person empties a green crate of harvested cacao pods onto a large pile of cacao pods on the ground, in an outdoor setting with dappled sunlight.

Cocoa Grind Figures Bring More Market Uncertainty

Insight Focus The cocoa market has faced record-high prices. This is d...

A person tips a green plastic crate, pouring yellow and orange cacao pods onto a large pile of cacao pods in an outdoor setting, with scattered sunlight and other crates in the background.

Lack of Regulatory Clarity Sparks Move to Delay EUDR

Insight Focus The European Commission has given into pressure to delay...

A person empties a large green crate filled with ripe cacao pods onto a pile of similar pods. Sunlight highlights the yellow, orange, and green colors of the cacao pods scattered across the ground.

EUDR Likely to Worsen Two-Tier Cocoa Market

Insight Focus The upcoming EUDR may create a two-tier market. Structur...

A large pile of colorful cacao pods in shades of yellow, orange, green, and red is stacked on the ground outdoors, surrounded by lush green plants and trees.

What Can Weather Tell Us About Cocoa Price Risk?

Insight Focus Weather is a major factor in the volatility of cocoa pri...

A close-up view of a large pile of raw cacao beans with brown, rough surfaces, emphasizing their natural texture and earthy tones.

Smuggling Further Distorts Global Cocoa Prices

Insight Focus Smuggling is a huge problem for the cocoa markets. Due t...

Two cacao pods, one reddish-purple and one orange, grow on a branch surrounded by green leaves in a lush, tropical setting.

5 Factors the Cocoa Supply Chain Should Monitor

Insight Focus The price of cocoa has been especially volatile in the p...

A worker in a hat uses a rake to spread out a large pile of brown cacao beans, sun-drying them outdoors on blue tarps. The focus is on the beans in the foreground, with the worker blurred in the background.

What EUDR Means for Cocoa

Insight Focus The European Commission’s EUDR regulations will come i...

A pile of cacao pods in various colors, including yellow, green, red, orange, and purple, with mottled textures and ridged surfaces, resting on a dark, earthy background.

Price Chaos Continues in Cocoa Market

The cocoa market has tripled in the past 7 months and has now hit all-...

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