Hi There-
In the last post, we saw how there are two key factors of supply impacting the price of cacao, due to decreased overall supply on the global market-
- The availability of cacao being impacted, largely, but not entirely, due to climate change.
- Large buyers in the industry capitalizing on Futures contracts.
Cacao trees do not fully mature for approximately five years after they start to grow. From there, it takes about half a year for their flowers to produce fruit- cacao trees also tend to decline in productivity at around the age of 25- many trees in Ghana and The Ivory Coast, which contribute to approximately 66% of the world’s cacao supply, So already, we are reaching a precarious situation.
But, let’s take a look at the other heavy hitter- Climate Change.
Climate Change Factors Impacting Cacao Viability: in summary with unstable weather patterns and significant deviations from natural climate patterns, cacao trees have a tough time.
Rising Temperatures: West Africa, where countries like Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana dominate global cacao production, has experienced rising temperatures. This warming can stress cacao trees, making them more susceptible to pests and diseases.
Changes in Rainfall Patterns: Climate change has led to unpredictable and altered rainfall patterns. Cacao trees are sensitive to both too much and too little rain. Droughts reduce the moisture available to cacao trees, leading to lower yields and weakened plants that are more vulnerable to pests and diseases. Conversely, excessive rainfall can foster the growth of fungal diseases.
Drought: Prolonged dry spells and reduced rainfall in key cacao-growing regions have led to drought conditions, severely impacting cacao yields. Drought stresses cacao trees, reducing their productivity and making them more susceptible to diseases.
So- too much stress is not good for cacao, either! But cacao trees can’t adopt a meditation practice, nor set boundaries with toxic aspects of their lives. They’re kinda screwed- and unless only the heartiest of varieties are fostered, it is a tough go for many farmers.
Years ago, when I first visited Ecuador, I spoke with Vicente, the operator of Camino Verde- he described their process as ‘The Hunger Games’ where only a select few would survive. Those would proceed to becoming fruit bearing trees.
Photo of a sac of wet cacao beans from when I visited Camino Verde back in 2014. Their cacao is incredible- and you know this photo is legit because I did not edit out the foot!
So, there is certainly a way for us to positively improve the output of cacao, despite the climate crisis…
Next we’ll look at how we have been experiencing this cacao shortage on a personal level- because it is personal...
Thanks for reading along- it is good to learn together.
Emma