February 12, 2025 – Climate change has driven weeks of crop-withering temperatures in West African countries that underpin the world’s chocolate supply, hitting harvests and likely further stoking record cocoa prices, researchers reported on February 12.
Impact on Cocoa Production
Farmers in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria – accounting for around 70 percent of global cacao production – have struggled with heat, disease, and unusual rainfall in recent years. These factors have contributed to falling production, leading to a significant rise in cocoa prices, with New York cocoa prices exceeding $10,000 per tonne on February 12.
Research Findings
A report by Climate Central found that climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels, has increased the frequency of hotter temperatures in these regions. The study highlighted that in the last decade, climate change added an extra three weeks of above 32°C heat during the main growing season in Ivory Coast and Ghana.
Additional Challenges
Apart from excessive heat, factors such as mealybug infestations, irregular rainfall patterns, smuggling, and illegal mining have further harmed cacao trees. Researchers noted that these conditions have led to a reduction in the quantity and quality of the harvest.
Economic and Social Impact
Christian Aid’s separate research on February 12 emphasized the vulnerability of chocolate and cacao farmers to climate change. The UK charity pointed out the whiplash from extreme rainfall to drought conditions, affecting crop yields and driving cocoa prices to meteoric heights since late 2023.
Future Concerns
Narcisa Pricope, a professor at Mississippi State University, stated that the crop faces an “existential threat” due to increasingly dry conditions in cacao-producing regions. She stressed that collective action against aridity is crucial not just for saving chocolate but for preserving the planet’s capacity to sustain life.
As the world grapples with the impact of climate change, the international community is urged to take immediate action to address the root causes and protect vital agricultural sectors.