The effects of climate change are threatening something that is near and dear to many people’s hearts: chocolate. The global chocolate industry is being destabilized in regions where cacao trees thrive.
Rising temperatures and increased humidity are stressing cacao trees, which are particularly sensitive to environmental changes, leading to decreased yields.
Most cocoa comes from tropical countries, including Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, where new climate conditions are enabling pests like mealybugs to thrive, bringing diseases like the swollen shoot virus, which has killed millions of trees.
The reduced cocoa supply has caused cocoa bean prices to skyrocket, hitting record highs. The price surge has prompted the U.S., Europe, and other stakeholders to invest in sustainable cocoa practices to support farmers and ensure long-term cocoa availability.
Projects like the U.S.-Indonesia partnership and Germany’s “German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa” aim to train farmers, enhance crop resilience, and prioritize sustainable cocoa sources.
These sustainability initiatives not only help preserve chocolate supplies, but also improve the livelihoods of farming communities, creating a more sustainable future for the cocoa industry and the people who depend on it.
For more insight into cacao sustainability, below are several .earth users working on the front lines of chocolate production:
- TMA.Earth: This organization is a non-profit rainforest conservation organization working to protect and restore the Pacific Forest of Ecuador, including by using heirloom cacao trees to reverse deforestation. Learn more here.
- Mmmcacao.Earth: This organization is a well-being company offering 100% pure, specialty cacao and transformative well-being experiences to open the hearts and minds of humanity by creating magical moments of presence and connection with cacao. Learn more here.
- CacaoRevolution.Earth: This organization has created organic, raw, ceremonial high-fat cacao. Learn more here.
- Bondy.Earth: This organization is the pioneer in the development of nature-based solutions in Madagascar, including when it comes to Ambanja cocoa in the region. Learn more here.
Does your organization work in cacao production? The .earth web domain is ideal for enhancing your brands and communicating your mission of creating a safer planet through platforms for social and environmental activism. In addition, we are running a special promotion where GoDaddy is offering .earth domains for $7.99 for a limited time. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
To learn more about the .earth domain, visit Voices.Earth. Many organizations and individuals are also sharing their voices about the benefits of a .earth domain in our Voices.Earth podcast series.
