Climate change is altering cocoa farming conditions, leading to tree mortality and rising chocolate prices, necessitating sustainable cocoa practices in major production areas worldwide.
Climate change is significantly impacting cacao production, leading to increased chocolate prices and highlighting the crucial need for sustainable cocoa initiatives. The rise in temperatures, along with increased humidity, is altering the environmental conditions within the 40-degree band around the equator, where cacao trees thrive. This region, spanning 20 degrees north and south of the equator, is home to the majority of cocoa farmers in key producing countries including Brazil, Cameroon, and Ghana, which collectively account for approximately 90% of global cocoa bean production, estimated at around five million tonnes annually according to the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa.
Cacao trees are susceptible to environmental changes caused by climate change. Specifically, rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns jeopardize the viability of cocoa farming. The most affected regions are predominantly in tropical climates where cocoa trees flourish, suggesting that the ongoing shifts in global climate pose an imminent threat to chocolate affordability and availability, as the produce greatly depends on stable growing conditions.
In conclusion, the interplay between climate change and cocoa production serves as a pressing reminder of the vulnerabilities within agricultural sectors influenced by environmental factors. The ongoing challenges highlight the necessity for sustainable farming practices to mitigate effects on chocolate supply and pricing. The future of chocolate production will rely heavily on proactive measures addressing climate change in key producing regions.
Original Source: www.perishablenews.com
