Organizers for the World Cocoa Conference have postponed the 2021 event to 2022 as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Hosted by the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) and Argus Media, the event was scheduled for May 23-26 at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center in Bali, Indonesia. It has been pushed back to May 2022, but exact dates have yet to be announced.

Organizers cited global restrictions on large gatherings and travel as the reason for the postponement. 

“The International Cocoa Organization is currently monitoring reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) daily,” the ICCO wrote on the event website. “We must put the health and safety of our attendees and staff above all else.”

Last held in Berlin in 2018, the World Cocoa Conference brought together 1,200 attendees from 600 countries, representing major players from across the value chain, including government agencies, chocolate manufacturers, trading companies, cocoa processors and service providers.