Climate change and gold mining endanger cultivation

The Chocolate prices are rising. Not only did the world’s largest manufacturer Barry Callebaut recently predict this, it can also be seen in the prices for raw cocoa.

About in Ghana in West Africa, the main cocoa growing region, are state-guaranteed Crop prices for cocoa according to Fairtrade Austria last increased by 45 percent. Im Nachbarland Ivory Coast (Ivory Coast) there was a plus around 20 percent. At the same time it threatens Climate change and a “Gold rush” the cultivation.

The demand for cocoa is increasing

Despite the price increases, cocoa farmers and families living in the region are faced with major challenges, says Fairtrade Austria’s managing director Hartwig Kirner after a trip to Ghana accompanied by local media to the APA. “Fluctuating crop yields due to extreme weather events and sharply rising production and living costs are driving many families into poverty in this situation.” The cost-driving factors included an unfavorable exchange rate development, but also transport and energy.

Many would lose perspective. This raises the question of how demand will be met in the future. Because the global one Demand for cocoa is increasing.

After Kirner and Co got an idea of ​​the situation on the spot, the Fairtrade representative said that “the problem of the strongly fluctuating crop yields of 50 percent and more annually.” “How is a cooperative, let alone an individual family, supposed to save financial resources to plant new cocoa trees or invest in an irrigation system?” asks Kirner.

Appeal to buy fair chocolate

That’s what comes with it enticement a short-term financial gain illegal gold mining. “The consequences are devastating. Kakaofelderbut also protected forests, were and become dem sacrificed to gold mining“We made money in the short term, but in the long term it made the soil and the entire environment unusable for generations,” says Kirner. “That makes it extremely difficult to get the young generation interested in working in the cocoa fields in order to continue their parents’ businesses in the future. “Kirner naturally appeals to chocolate lovers to pay attention when buying. fair chocolate to kaufen.

Only recently, the head of the world’s largest chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut from Switzerland, Peter Feld, predicted that chocolate prices would soon rise. The Consumption but will climb and not sink – as has been the case for decades “despite wars, financial crises and other disruptions,” said the manager.