The world's favourite treat is facing a growing threat with no solution
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We all know how good chocolate is. There's nothing like a sugar hit from your favourite bar to put a smile on your face, no matter what's going on in the world.
And it's not just us Aussies who love the stuff – according to research, around 7.5 million tons of chocolate will have been consumed globally by the end of the year, with the average person indulging in 5.1kg per annum!
But behind the shiny packaging and sugar highs are a string of very real challenges facing the entire sector – one of which is a growing threat that could spell disaster for our beloved chocolate.
The chocolate industry is struggling to keep up with the emergence of a devastating disease that is plaguing chocolate makers across the world.
One of the most serious emerging diseases to affect the cocoa industry, cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD) is a major issue for chocolate manufacturers — and one that is likely to worsen year after year.
While it was first discovered decades ago, the disease is spreading and is considerably more dangerous each season.
According to industry insiders, the disease can easily and rapidly spread from tree to tree and across entire farms, killing trees before one can even blink.
While authorities are providing some financial aid to farmers and proposing alternative crops like rubber as a substitute for conventional crops, the only effective defence against it at the moment is to aggressively quarantine and remove infected trees to stop the disease from spreading.
Stephane Detaille, the global sustainability manager for Nestlé, acknowledged that the virus was 'certainly spreading’, adding that the company is 'discussing with suppliers locally and there is definitely a spread of the virus, so there is a risk.'
'For now, we don't have a big issue about reaching our target in terms of volumes... But it's something that is there, we don't know to what extent,' he said.
'To be honest, if someone asked me what is the real threat, I would not say climate change, I would not say money for fertilisers, I would say basically it's swollen shoot because we don't have any way to treat it. That is my worry.'
It is predicted that the 2021/22 cocoa crop in Ghana, the second-largest cocoa producer in the world behind Cote d'Ivoire, was reduced by 35 per cent year-on-year due to the disease, which was exacerbated by drought.
Experts have cautioned against demanding lower prices from producers amid the industry's wider issues and urged consumers to seek ethical alternatives when buying chocolate.
However, there is no solution, according to Nestlé Cocoa Plan manager Nathan Bello.
He explained: 'We cannot cure it, we can just stop its expansion, but we do not really have a treatment. For some years now, it has been developing and increasing.'
It must be noted that while CSSVD presents a challenge to the cocoa industry and chocolate manufacturing in general, it has not significantly hindered overall production volumes.
However, the disease poses a dilemma for individual cocoa farmers, leaving them with little choice but to give up their source of income amid the serious outbreak.
Aside from the disease, cocoa producers are also contending with other major problems like child labour risks (associated with poverty), climate change/deforestation and changing demographics within their communities.
To address these threats head-on, confectionery giant Nestle unveiled a new programme in January 2020 that would enhance the lives of cocoa farmers.
Those who meet the requirements of the income accelerator programme, which was established to help farmers earn a living wage, are given financial incentives and other benefits like financing the education of their children who are between the ages of six and sixteen, providing a budget for using effective agricultural techniques (like pruning) to increase crop productivity, providing seminars in agroforestry practises (like planting trees in shade), and generating a variety of incomes from other crops, livestock, small businesses, etc.
Mr Detaille told reporters that Nestle was committed to supporting farmers and creating real change within rural communities impacted by these issues.
He said: 'Definitely there is a necessity to work on this, it’s a question of being faithful to the cocoa families we are working with … and we’re really investing in that.'
'We have a CEO that is extremely committed so we will absorb the cost.'
'It is very important to embed sustainability in the way you do business because it has to have value for the business, and also ensure we have a supply of cocoa in the future.'
While this program wasn't specifically designed with CSSVD in mind, it's helping farmers reduce many risks to their livelihoods.
'One of the things is how to build the next generation of farmers – how to create that interest … the average age of the farmers is close to 50, and definitely, we have to bring young blood,' he continued.
'What will be important in the future will be to have a coalition approach of companies to be able to work together. Systemic issues will not be solved by Nestle alone. We have to bring our competitors and other players together.'
We all have our favourite comfort foods that we turn to when we need a pick-me-up – and for a lot of people around the world, chocolate is at the top of that list.
We can only hope that experts can come up with an effective strategy to keep this treat alive.
There you have it, folks! What are some alternatives that you can recommend for consuming chocolate? Maybe a different sweet treat that you can suggest? Share them with us in the comments below!
And it's not just us Aussies who love the stuff – according to research, around 7.5 million tons of chocolate will have been consumed globally by the end of the year, with the average person indulging in 5.1kg per annum!
But behind the shiny packaging and sugar highs are a string of very real challenges facing the entire sector – one of which is a growing threat that could spell disaster for our beloved chocolate.
The chocolate industry is struggling to keep up with the emergence of a devastating disease that is plaguing chocolate makers across the world.
An average of 5.1kg of chocolate is consumed annually in Australia. Credit: Pexels/Pixabay.
One of the most serious emerging diseases to affect the cocoa industry, cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD) is a major issue for chocolate manufacturers — and one that is likely to worsen year after year.
While it was first discovered decades ago, the disease is spreading and is considerably more dangerous each season.
According to industry insiders, the disease can easily and rapidly spread from tree to tree and across entire farms, killing trees before one can even blink.
While authorities are providing some financial aid to farmers and proposing alternative crops like rubber as a substitute for conventional crops, the only effective defence against it at the moment is to aggressively quarantine and remove infected trees to stop the disease from spreading.
Stephane Detaille, the global sustainability manager for Nestlé, acknowledged that the virus was 'certainly spreading’, adding that the company is 'discussing with suppliers locally and there is definitely a spread of the virus, so there is a risk.'
A plant virus is spreading among cocoa trees, which causes the slowing down of the production of chocolate. Credit: Pexels/Dmitriy Ganin.
'For now, we don't have a big issue about reaching our target in terms of volumes... But it's something that is there, we don't know to what extent,' he said.
'To be honest, if someone asked me what is the real threat, I would not say climate change, I would not say money for fertilisers, I would say basically it's swollen shoot because we don't have any way to treat it. That is my worry.'
It is predicted that the 2021/22 cocoa crop in Ghana, the second-largest cocoa producer in the world behind Cote d'Ivoire, was reduced by 35 per cent year-on-year due to the disease, which was exacerbated by drought.
Experts have cautioned against demanding lower prices from producers amid the industry's wider issues and urged consumers to seek ethical alternatives when buying chocolate.
However, there is no solution, according to Nestlé Cocoa Plan manager Nathan Bello.
He explained: 'We cannot cure it, we can just stop its expansion, but we do not really have a treatment. For some years now, it has been developing and increasing.'
It must be noted that while CSSVD presents a challenge to the cocoa industry and chocolate manufacturing in general, it has not significantly hindered overall production volumes.
However, the disease poses a dilemma for individual cocoa farmers, leaving them with little choice but to give up their source of income amid the serious outbreak.
Aside from the disease, cocoa producers are also contending with other major problems like child labour risks (associated with poverty), climate change/deforestation and changing demographics within their communities.
To address these threats head-on, confectionery giant Nestle unveiled a new programme in January 2020 that would enhance the lives of cocoa farmers.
Those who meet the requirements of the income accelerator programme, which was established to help farmers earn a living wage, are given financial incentives and other benefits like financing the education of their children who are between the ages of six and sixteen, providing a budget for using effective agricultural techniques (like pruning) to increase crop productivity, providing seminars in agroforestry practises (like planting trees in shade), and generating a variety of incomes from other crops, livestock, small businesses, etc.
Mr Detaille told reporters that Nestle was committed to supporting farmers and creating real change within rural communities impacted by these issues.
He said: 'Definitely there is a necessity to work on this, it’s a question of being faithful to the cocoa families we are working with … and we’re really investing in that.'
'We have a CEO that is extremely committed so we will absorb the cost.'
'It is very important to embed sustainability in the way you do business because it has to have value for the business, and also ensure we have a supply of cocoa in the future.'
While this program wasn't specifically designed with CSSVD in mind, it's helping farmers reduce many risks to their livelihoods.
'One of the things is how to build the next generation of farmers – how to create that interest … the average age of the farmers is close to 50, and definitely, we have to bring young blood,' he continued.
'What will be important in the future will be to have a coalition approach of companies to be able to work together. Systemic issues will not be solved by Nestle alone. We have to bring our competitors and other players together.'
We all have our favourite comfort foods that we turn to when we need a pick-me-up – and for a lot of people around the world, chocolate is at the top of that list.
We can only hope that experts can come up with an effective strategy to keep this treat alive.
There you have it, folks! What are some alternatives that you can recommend for consuming chocolate? Maybe a different sweet treat that you can suggest? Share them with us in the comments below!
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