Only four West African countries are the basis of an industry worth more than $ 100 billion. In the tropics of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria, cocoa trees bearing dozens of seeds. Once harvested, these modest beans are dried, roasted and treated in something loved around the world.
Chocolate has been cleared for thousands of years, especially on Valentine’s Day, is an unambiguous love symbol. But as irregular weather continues to increase in increased sweets costs, sweet treatment has become a symbol of less romantic: climate change.
Two reports published on Wednesday found that warming pays temperatures that exceed the perfect range of cocoa growth in countries in the heart of the world’s supplies, especially during the initial harvest seasons. The search reveals how to burn oil and charcoal and Methane It is roasting a cocoa belt on the planet and High chocolate prices.
“One of the foods that the world loves most at risk is due to climate change,” said Christina Dal, Vice President of Science in Non -profit climate, who wrote one of the reports. “I hope that human activity is difficult to grow human activity that is difficult to grow cocoa, and this may cause this food that we love a lot.”
on 70 percent Among the world cocoa is grown in West Africa, with Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria, the largest producers. The largest part of the rest is grown in places with similar climates that are not far from the equator, such as Indonesia and Ecuador. Trees grow better in Forest rainwood conditions With high humidity, abundant rain, nitrogen -rich soil, and natural wind institutions. Exposure to temperatures higher than 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit provokes water stress, hinders plant growth, and leads to the erosion of the quality and amount of seeds produced by trees.
Last year, warming added at least six weeks of that threshold in nearly two -thirds of cocoa -producing areas throughout Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria, which contributes to a. CatastrophicAccording to Central Climate Report.
The researchers studied temperature data in the region and estimates that may have been experienced during the past decade in a world without high human temperature. They found that between 2015 and 2024, climate change increased from the number of days that each country suffers from a higher temperature than the ideal of cocoa growth by two to four weeks annually. Most of those most heated days came during the main crop cycle, when plants open and produce beans. Warning also changes rainy patterns and drought, which facilitates the spread Destroyer Such as the rotting of the pod, and contributing to the deterioration of the soil. Another new study Low rates of pollination and temperatures are found higher than the average in Ghana combined to reduce yield.
However, the impact of the impact of climate change on production and consumer prices are still largely imperceptible by scientists and economists. Dal also said that it is not known that any weather phenomena stands behind the greatest influence on production, nor is it clear that it is effective. Nineu It was on the harvest last year.
Isouf Sanogo / AFP via Getty Images
Emmanuel Essa Minsah, Cocoa Farms in Ghana, described climate change as one of the most dangerous problems that affect production throughout West Africa. “Drought means that we lose 60 percent of our cocoa plants. I have seen a radical decrease in income, as well as all farmers in my collaborators in agriculture.”
Drought, floods and plant diseases that crushed the region last year contributed to the record of cocoa prices, which in turn caused the chocolate cost, according to a report By non -profit Christianity, which works as sustainable development and economic justice. International cocoa production decreased About 14 percent In the 2023-24 season, and before Valentine’s Day last year, the high price of cocoa was shattered in the futures market a Record 47 years.
Kat Kramer, a co -author of the report and climate policy consultant in non -profit organizations, said that its findings were revealed, and revealed the ability to exposure to climate change in the industry. “Chocolate lovers need to push companies and their governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, otherwise chocolate supplies will be tragic at the risk of climate,” said Kramer.
The effects of this go beyond what it means to this delicious appetite. Cocoa is also used in other commodities such as cosmetics and pharmaceutical preparations, which represent a large part of the global market. However, chocolate remains king, as the United States imports it $ 2.8 billion Its value every year – more than 10 percent of the world’s show.
Federal Reserve Data It indicates that international cocoa prices increased by 144 percent in December, more than twice than the previous year. This is known as the price of the product, or what the global chocolate manufacturers pay those who treat raw beans. However, this cost is often absorbed by sweets customers. “When the prices of producers rise, when production costs rise, consumer prices rise,” Siminova said.
However, with high prices, farmers who raise cocoa always see none of this profit. Josephine George Francis, which produces the crop along the coffee on its farm in Liberia, said farmers throughout West Africa are losing money due to the high cost of growth in the world of warming. “We need a different approach that puts sustainability and farmers in her heart,” said George Francis. “We do not benefit from increasing prices on global markets.”
Of course, cocoa is not the only component of warming sweets. Early last year, a chasger, another essential component, was sold in some The highest prices More than a decade of harsh weather Restricted global sugar cane production.
“Not only is the amount of cocoa production affected by the acceleration of climate change,” said Siminova. “The type and quality of the ingredients that enter chocolate will change.”
All this led many chocolate to adaptation. Some, like Mars and HersheyThe amount of cocoa is quietly reduced or even new treatments that are completely eliminated. With the continued rise in prices, Analysts expect to see the requestThe trend until Valentine’s Day cannot stop.
