This year, consumers are facing higher prices for Easter eggs, largely due to the adverse effects of climate change on cacao crops. Brands like Maltesers, Lindt, and Ferrero Rocher have seen significant price increases, some exceeding 50% compared to last year. The rise in cocoa prices, more than doubling in the past year, has been particularly pronounced, driven by extreme weather conditions in West Africa, where over 70% of the global cocoa supply originates.
Devastation in West Africa
West Africa, primarily Ivory Coast and Ghana, which together supply more than half of the world’s cacao demand, has been hit hard by extreme weather events and plant diseases. The cocoa season, starting in October 2023, has seen crops devastated by fungal black pod disease and cacao swollen shoot virus, both exacerbated by months of wet conditions. The recent heatwave in mid-February further weakened trees already damaged by rainfall, pushing temperatures to over 40C in some regions.
Future Challenges for Cacao Farming
The outlook for cacao farming in West Africa is concerning, with increasing temperatures and declining rainfall already impacting output. If global warming reaches 2C above pre-industrial levels, heatwaves like those experienced recently could occur more frequently and become even hotter, posing severe challenges for cacao cultivation. Despite efforts such as using drought-resistant seeds and regenerative farming techniques, the industry faces significant hurdles in adapting to changing climate patterns.
Shifts in Production and Supply Chains
Farmers are being compelled to move to higher altitudes to cultivate cacao, leading to deforestation and ecosystem destruction, which in turn contributes to climate change. The impending EU deforestation regulations expected in December 2024 may further disrupt supply chains from regions like West Africa. Although production could potentially shift to other regions like South America, they are unlikely to fully compensate for the shortfall and may also face similar weather-related challenges.
Urgent Need for Climate Action
The impact of extreme weather on cacao crops serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address human-caused emissions and mitigate climate change. As the climate crisis worsens, industries like cacao farming face increasingly severe challenges, underscoring the importance of international cooperation and concerted efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.
SOURCE: Ref Image from Hari Ghorta
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