Predicted decrease in chocolate supplies by 2020
Giant chocolate producers warn that the world might see a drastic decline in chocolate production by 2020.
Cocoa production cannot keep up with an increased global chocolate demand, warns one of the world’s largest confectionary producers Switzerland’s Barry Callebaut.
According to a recent study by Mars Inc and Barry Callebaut there would be a drastic chocolate shortage by 2020.
It has been reported that the soaring demand in chocolate has doubled in the last eight years.
Barry Callebaut said according to their statistics, they have sold more than 1,7 million tonnes of chocolate in 2013/2014. This is a rise of 11,7 % compared to 2012 figures.
The world’s largest cocoa suppliers are the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Cameroon and they provide about 70% of the world’s supply.
According to Market Business News, the growing conditions on the region’s cocoa farms have been affected by severe drought and a fungal disease called frosty pod (rot disease).
Bama Yao Octave, from CropLife African Middle East, said in a statement that 38 000 cocoa farmers in West Africa were reducing the negative impact on their crops through a joint initiative by CropLife and the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF).
“Already an estimated 30-40% of the cocoa crop is lost to pests and diseases every year, but the situation is now being exacerbated by hotter, more humid conditions in West Africa that favour the development of insect pests and diseases. These weaken and sometimes destroy the crop,” Octave said.
Sona Ebai, Chief of Party at WCF, confirmed in a statement that global demand for cocoa was outstripping the current supply. Ebai said tpests and diseases had also developed a taste for chocolate, which put them in a constant race to protect the cocoa crops.
Other reported global influences include the current Ebola outbreak in predominantly African regions, pricier ingredients, an increased chocolate demand, supply problems and food price hikes.
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