This story originally Appears in Grist It is part of Climate desk collaboration.
Just four West African countries are the foundation of an industry that exceeds $100 billion. In the tropical countries of Ghana, Cameroon and Ivory Coast in Nigeria, rows of cocoa trees are budding pods with dozens of species of seeds. When harvested, these humble beans are dried, roasted and processed into something loved all over the world.
Chocolate has been craved for thousands of years, and is an unmistakable token of love, especially on Valentine’s Day. But as increasingly unstable weather continues to raise the costs of sweet treats, the sweet treat has become a symbol of something far less romantic: climate change.
Two reports released last week found that warming is pushing temperatures beyond the optimum range of cocoa growth in countries at the heart of global supply. The study reveals that combustion oil, coal and methane roast the cocoa belt of the planet; Trending chocolate prices.
“It’s one of the world’s most beloved foods because of climate change,” says Kristina Dahl, vice president of science at Climate Central, a nonprofit organization who wrote one of two reports. . “After hearing that human activities make it difficult for people to grow cocoa, people will stop and think about our priorities as seeds and act to limit future climate change and future harms. I hope you think about whether to prioritize this food we love so much.”
About 70% Of the world’s cocoa, it is grown in West Africa, with the largest producers of Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. The majority of the rest is grown in places with similar climates, such as Indonesia and Ecuador, not far from the equator. Trees grow best Tropical Rainforest Conditions It has high humidity, abundant rain, nitrogen-rich soil, and natural wind buffer. Exposure to temperatures above 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit promotes water stress, hinders plant growth, and erodes the quality and quantity of seeds produced by trees.
Last year, warming added more than six weeks’ worth of day, which is almost two-thirds of the cocoa production regions of Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. A miserable harvestAccording to Central Climate Report.
Researchers looked at local temperature data and looked at estimates of what may have been experienced in the past decade in a world without human-induced warming. They found that from 2015 to 2024, climate change increased the number of days experienced by countries, increasing the ideal range for cocoa growth for 2-4 weeks a year. Most of those hot days came during the main crop cycle where the plants bloom and produce beans. Warming is also about changing rain patterns, promoting drought and promoting the spread of A catastrophic illness It contributes to soil degradation, like pod rot. Another new study The low percentage of pollination in Ghana and the higher than average temperatures combine to limit yields.
