Monday 14 March 2022

Climate change stopping chocolate?

People are becoming more aware of the impacts climate change is having on different parts of the world and aspects of life – but researchers suggest its next victim may take many by surprise.

Cocoa is touted to be the next industry impacted by rising temperatures, with researchers from Harvard University suggesting that by the end of this decade, West Africa will be too hot and dry to produce the bean used to make chocolate.

Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire produce an estimated 70% of the world’s cocoa but the current trajectory of temperature rises intimates that this may not be possible for long.

Impacts of this change are already being witnessed in a hike in prices, with American producer Hershey already announcing it plans to raise the cost of its chocolate bars, as the price of ingredients increases.

The Wall Street Journal reported that last month prices rose by 8% to more than $2,700 (£2,069) per metric tonne – the highest closing level since November 2020.

Cocoa is not the only ingredient struggling with high prices though, as sugar is also close to a four-year high.

Researchers warn that if current warming trends don’t change, not only will prices rise but farming of the crop will become almost impossible.