But apparently its existence and availability are now severely threatened by climate change and by mid-century chocolate could become a luxury item. Alas!
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himEating chocolate is for many a multisensory experience bordering on earthly pleasure: it delights the palate, energizes the body, satisfies the spirit. Whether it is a bar, beans, a drink or a spread, this food derived from seeds of the cocoa plant (Theobroma cacao L.) has seduced entire civilizations and millions and millions of human beings, since the times of the ancient Aztecs, according to whom the god Quetzalcoalt wanted to give men a "miraculous" tree from whose seeds to draw a nectar capable of infusing strength and wealth, up to the present day.
But apparently its existence and availability are now severely threatened by climate change and by mid-century the chocolate could become a luxury item. Alas!
A rivelarlo il recente rapporto “Predicting the Impact of Climate Change on the Cocoa-Growing Regions in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire” dell’International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT,) edited by Dr. Peter Läderach, according to whom, due to climate change and rising temperatures, in the 2050 Ghana and Ivory Coast, which produce half of the world's cocoa, they will no longer have land suitable for the cultivation of this plant.
The study looked at 19 models to assess the impact of climate change on cocoa production, and found that the prediction of2,5 degree increase in average temperature by 2050, it would jeopardize almost all of the land that is currently used for cocoa cultivation. And the first negative impacts of global warming on crops will begin as early as 2030, when the average temperature is expected to rise by one degree.
Really a hard blow, which will undoubtedly afflict all lovers of the food of the gods, but which allows the negative effect of the increase in temperatures to emerge in all its scope. “The effects of temperature growth in marginal areas are already being observed - explains Peter Laderach in one note - and with climate change these areas will progressively increase. At a time when global demand for chocolate is growing fast, particularly in China, this will sooner or later lead to an increase in prices ”.
“Many of these farmers - continues the author - use the cocoa trees as if they were an ATM, collect a few pods and sell them quickly to pay for medical bills or school fees. Plants play an absolutely critical role in rural life ".
So what to do in order not to lose this precious crop forever? Moving plantations could be a viable solution, but it's not that simple: the report's findings show that ideal conditions for growing cocoa occur at higher altitudes, but most of West Africa is rather flat and even where there are hills, there would still be a risk of compromising biodiversity and the territory. Which means further aggravating climate change. A practical and efficient solution could be to choose lands that are shaded and protected by trees from rising temperatures. But this is only a palliative.
The suppliers of fair trade chocolate have no doubts: the only solution is move from mass production to a high quality strategy.
Waiting for the bodies in charge to take action to safeguard the existence and usability of chocolate, we cannot sit idle: even we "mere mortals" can do something in our own small way, such as choosing from now on only organic products and fair trade, and, perhaps, take action to adopt a cocoa plant. Time to act in the name of chocolate!
Roberta Ragni
