The Impact of Climate Change on Chocolate Production

Climate change is threatening chocolate production by damaging cacao harvests in West Africa, which provides 70% of the world’s supply. A recent report indicates that record temperatures and unusual weather patterns have led to reduced yields and surging cocoa prices. This situation is exacerbated by various challenges, putting farmers’ livelihoods at risk.

Recent research highlights the detrimental effects of climate change on chocolate production, particularly in West African nations responsible for 70% of the world’s cacao supply. Last year, crop-threatening temperatures damaged harvests, intensifying rising cocoa prices. The study from Climate Central suggests that heat, disease, and unusual rainfall patterns have severely impacted cacao farming in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria.

The report reveals that climate change has resulted in higher temperatures, with an additional three weeks of extreme heat (over 32 degrees Celsius) in Ivory Coast and Ghana during the critical growing season. The researchers utilized data from 44 cacao-producing regions to compare contemporary temperatures with those from a hypothetical climate-stable world. They determined that, in the past decade, rising temperatures have significantly hindered cacao tree productivity.

Moreover, the research reports that the record-high global temperatures of last year caused excessive heat on at least 42 days in two-thirds of the analyzed areas, threatening both the quantity and quality of cacao yields. Other challenges, including pest infestations and illegal activities, also contribute to diminishing cacao production and surging cocoa prices.

Christian Aid, a UK charity, emphasized the precarious situation for cacao farmers, noting extreme weather fluctuations due to climate change. “Growing cocoa is a vital livelihood for many of the poorest people around the world and human-caused climate change is putting that under serious threat,” stated Osai Ojigho, the organization’s director.

Consequently, cocoa prices have surged dramatically, with New York traded cocoa costing over US$10,000 per tonne recently, compared to historical values between US$2,000 and US$3,000. Swiss chocolate company Lindt & Spruengli announced further price increases to cope with elevated cocoa costs. Narcisa Pricope of Mississippi State University remarked on the crop’s existential threat due to progressively arid conditions in cacao-producing regions.

In summary, climate change poses a severe risk to global chocolate production by adversely affecting cacao harvests in West Africa. The rise in temperatures has led to reduced yields and increased cocoa prices. Urgent measures are needed to mitigate these impacts and support farmers whose livelihoods depend on cacao cultivation.

Original Source: www.straitstimes.com