Every year, Americans spend more and more on Valentine’s Day for their loved ones. 2023, they spent Almost $26 billionand this year they are expected to spend more than $27.5 billion. Most of this is spent on candy, 11.2% is chocolate. Americans actually eat £58 million chocolate Valentine’s Day week. However, cocoa production is declining and chocolate prices are rising. Jessica Fanzoa professor of climate and director of the Humanity Initiative at the Columbia School of Climate, explains what cocoa trees need to flourish and how climate change makes chocolate production more challenging.
Where do cocoa trees grow and what conditions should they thrive?
The major cocoa production areas are in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Central and South America, including Ecuador and Colombia. And in West Africa, the Court ‘d’ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, etc. Approximately 70% of cocoa produced worldwide comes from West Africa. Some of the commonalities of these regions are that they embrace the equator and are tropical.
Cocoa trees need warm temperatures, high humidity and reliable rainfall. Because of these three requirements, we can imagine how sensitive Cocoa production is. Furthermore, cacao trees require 3-5 years to produce the first pod of cacao after planting the seedlings. Peak production will take another five years. However, climate change does not have time to wait. Global warming is bounced on the planet, and cacao trees require special care and time to grow, mature and mature cacao pods. It still takes time after the cocoa is sold, so it takes time to ferment the pods and dry them into products such as chocolate. Therefore, cultivation and maintenance of cocoa trees, a highly labor-intensive process, requires specific agricultural expertise, such as soil management, pest and disease interference, and pollination potential. Climate change now presents challenges for those who care about this important global product.
How does climate change affect cocoa production?
Predictable weather, climate change and climate change have had a major impact on cocoa production. Cocoa requires consistent rainfall, so drought or prolonged dry seasons can cause water stress and reduce yields. Too much rainfall can spread diseases such as cacao and certain bacteria that target cacao podballers. High temperatures also stress the trees by promoting evaporation, increasing soil moisture loss and lowering yields. Some regions of West Africa are extremely hot and dry, affecting human nutrition and health, as well as the ability to grow cacao trees in traditional growing regions. To reduce the effects of heat, some farmers have moved to higher elevation areas. However, land ownership is tenuous and controversial. While there may be opportunities to further grow the cocoa industry in Southeast Asia and South America, deforestation puts these crops at risk associated with loss of biodiversity and poor ecosystem management.
Are there any ways to adapt to these effects and are they practiced?
absolutely. One option for farmers is to adopt new drought-resistant and resistant cocoa varieties that are being researched and developed. These new varieties have been tested in several places, including Ghana and Brazil. The second option is to grow cocoa in a more “mixed” agroforestry system, which allows farmers to grow cocoa under shaded trees (such as plantainers). These trees ease temperatures and maintain soil moisture. Additionally, adding fruit trees such as avocados and mangoes to the agricultural system can complement livelihoods and provide nutrition to households. Third, soil and water management are important, such as stormwater capture and harvesting, and investment or support in irrigation strategies where possible. Mulching techniques can retain soil moisture during drought. Precision farming tools and mobile apps can also provide farmers with information such as weather forecasts, market prices, and farm sensors to better prepare them for extreme weather events and market volatility.
It is important to connect farmers to certification and collaborative programs and ensure that governments and the private sector support these mechanisms. Certification programs such as Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and Organic Certification Schem can provide growers with better prices, training and financial incentives. The last and most important thing is that farmers need support, support and communities to ensure the transition to climate adaptation. All these adaptive technologies and farm management practices can be established using extended services and collaborative farming groups to provide technical support, access credits, equity funds and risk.
Is there a way to encourage more sustainable growth practices through what consumers have purchased?
Consumers can support ethically sourced chocolate by purchasing products with clearly labelled sustainability certifications. These certifications not only source chocolate from farmers who have taken measures to produce cocoa in a more environmentally sustainable way, but for many companies, farmers pay a living wage for their products And it means that you are definitely earning and striving for better fair labor practices. Consumers can also search for brands that source chocolate from farms that support agroforestry, such as shade-grown cocoa production. There are a variety of chocolate products in the market, but there is a need to investigate how brands can source chocolate and support policies and policymakers who care about fair trade, reforestation and climate change.
Why are cocoa so expensive?
In 2023, cocoa yields were low in both major producers, Cote de Boir and Ghana, due to low rainfall and low disease, resulting in a surge in prices. Over the past two years, cocoa prices set by intercontinental exchanges have increased by over 300%. Due to various factors that began with climate-related events that destroyed yields in West Africa, as well as other factors such as market speculation, future contracts, future contracts, and “added trees” to increase yields. Prices remain high. If you want to buy a loved one for Valentine’s Day, be prepared to pay more.
