Meet the Presenter

Andal Balu, CocoaTown co-founder

Waste to Wealth – Cocoa Is More Than Chocolate

Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025
Time: 10 AM – 12 Noon (Atlanta time)
Location: Virtual

For over a decade, Andal Balu has traveled the globe listening, learning, and collaborating with cocoa farmers, chocolate makers, and innovators who are redefining what’s possible with the cocoa plant. From small farms in Africa and Latin America to cutting-edge chocolate labs in Europe and Asia, Andal has seen firsthand how communities are transforming cocoa husks into tea, shells into compostable packaging, and pulp into jams, juices, and spirits.

As the co-founder of CocoaTown, Andal has long championed the idea that cocoa is more than chocolate. Her passion lies in supporting people who are using this extraordinary plant to build businesses, preserve culture, and generate income beyond the traditional chocolate bar. Through conversations in the field and countless workshops around the world, she has gathered deep insight into how each part of the cocoa pod can be used—creating sustainable livelihoods and reducing waste.

Andal’s work has helped empower chocopreneurs in over 100 countries by providing tools, training, and inspiration to think differently about cocoa. Her mission is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: when you value every part of the plant, you create more opportunities for everyone.

“We’ve seen cocoa turned into cosmetics, health foods, textiles, beverages—you name it. There’s no limit to what cocoa can become.”

Driven by curiosity and fueled by purpose, Andal continues to advocate for a more sustainable and inclusive cocoa economy—one innovation, one conversation, and one chocopreneur at a time.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲.

Learn more about the webinar: https://cocoatown.com/blogs/blog/waste-to-wealth-cocoa-is-more-than-chocolate

Register Now: bit.ly/4lNkYiX