For many, chocolate is a relaxing treat. But then the panic sets in: news reports say that chocolate might disappear?
The cacao tree produces fruits that contain beans. These beans are ground to make cocoa butter and cocoa. Due to climate change, the cacao tree could become extinct. It’s a sensitive plant: the air and soil must be just moist enough, the temperature must be just right, and the soil needs the right composition. That’s why cacao is mainly grown in Indonesia, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.
With rising temperatures, the soil becomes drier. The regions where cacao could still grow in the future are often unsuitable—some are nature reserves that can’t easily be converted into farmland.
It’s not certain that chocolate will truly disappear—there’s still time to develop alternatives. For example, Australia is becoming more suitable for growing cacao trees. However, prices are likely to rise.
In addition to chocolate, coffee may also become much scarcer in the coming years. The coffee plant is also affected by climate change.