A recent peer-reviewed study highlights a lesser-known threat to cocoa production, emphasizing heavy rainfall as a significant weather risk. According to Anna Lea Albright, the lead researcher from Harvard University, while heat and drought have been the primary climate concerns, heavy rain poses a more substantial risk to cocoa cultivation.
Cocoa prices have surged in recent years, impacting consumers globally. Factors such as heavy flooding in West Africa, the world’s largest cocoa-growing region, have contributed to price fluctuations. Leslie Agyare, founder of Three Mountains Cocoa in Ghana, noted the challenges posed by excessive rainfall on cocoa farming this year.
The study, focusing on Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, revealed that extreme rainfall during the flowering stage significantly impacts cocoa yields, more so than temperature fluctuations. Excessive rain can damage sensitive cocoa flowers and young pods, leading to lower yields and increased fungal infections like black pod disease.
Albright highlighted the increasing intensity of heavy rain events during the wet season, a trend attributed to warmer air holding more moisture. While El Niño typically reduces extreme rainfall in West Africa, it raises the risk of drought, creating additional challenges for cocoa farmers.
Apart from climate risks, the study also addressed non-climactic threats like aging trees and illegal mining that affect cocoa production. The need for interventions such as fungicide use and improved drainage to combat fungal diseases was emphasized.
Agyare stressed the necessity for infrastructure investments to address challenges faced by cocoa farmers, including the lack of reservoirs for rainwater storage and inefficient post-harvest processes. The study’s findings suggest that climate shocks are making cocoa farming less attractive in West Africa, potentially leading to a shift away from cocoa production in the chocolate industry.
In response to these challenges, companies like Nestlé have ventured into alternative chocolate production, exploring cocoa-free options like ChoViva, which uses sunflower seeds. This shift towards more resilient supply chains reflects the evolving landscape of chocolate production amid climate uncertainties and price fluctuations.
