Climate Change Threatens Global Chocolate Supply
Climate change is having a profound impact on the global chocolate supply, with researchers warning of the vulnerability of chocolate and cacao farmers to weather changes and extremes driven by global warming.
Heatwave Affects Harvests
Climate change drove weeks of crop-withering temperatures last year in the West African countries that underpin the world’s chocolate supply, hitting harvests and likely further stoking record prices, researchers said. Farmers in the region, which account for some 70% of global cacao production, have struggled with heat, disease, and unusual rainfall in recent years, which have all contributed to falling production.
Excessive Heat Affects Yields
The study found that "climate change, due primarily to burning oil, coal, and methane gas, is causing hotter temperatures to become more frequent" in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria. The trend was particularly marked in Ivory Coast and Ghana, the two biggest cacao producers. Researchers compared today’s temperatures with a counterfactual of a world without the effects of climate change, and found that over the last decade, climate change had added an extra three weeks of above 32°C heat in Ivory Coast and Ghana during the main growing season.
Consequences for Chocolate Production
Excessive heat can contribute to a reduction in the quantity and quality of the harvest, said researchers. Other factors, such as mealybug infestations, rainfall patterns, smuggling, and illegal mining, are also potentially harming cacao trees and boosting prices.
Existential Threat to Cacao Production
Narcisa Pricope, a professor at Mississippi State University, said the crop faces an "existential threat" largely because of increasingly dry conditions in cacao-producing regions. She was part of recent research from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification that found more than three-quarters of the Earth’s landmass has become drier over the past 30 years.
Collective Action Needed
"Precious action against aridity isn’t just about saving chocolate – it’s about preserving the planet’s capacity to sustain life," said Pricope. "Collective action is needed to address this crisis, and it requires a global response to address the root causes of climate change, as well as sustainable agricultural practices and policy changes to support vulnerable farmers."
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the impact of climate change on cacao production?
A: Climate change is causing hotter temperatures, which can lead to a reduction in the quantity and quality of the harvest, and potentially harm cacao trees.
Q: How is climate change affecting cacao production in West Africa?
A: Climate change is driving heatwaves and droughts in West Africa, which are affecting cacao production and contributing to falling yields.
Q: What are the consequences of climate change for chocolate production?
A: Climate change is driving up prices and threatening the livelihoods of cacao farmers, who are struggling to adapt to a changing climate.
Q: What can be done to address the impact of climate change on cacao production?
A: Collective action is needed to address the root causes of climate change, as well as sustainable agricultural practices and policy changes to support vulnerable farmers.