Climate change a leading factor in skyrocketing chocolate prices

CITYnews halifax / By Matt Hutcheson

With the price of everything going up, why would chocolate be any different?

A pair of recently released reports are shedding light on the impact of climate change on the price of cacao, the raw product used to make chocolate.

The first report from Climate Central shows rising temperatures in the four West African countries that supply the majority of the worlds cacao is leading to poor crop yields. It found that on average, the warming climate has added six extra weeks of temperatures above the optimal growing conditions.

Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria produce around 70 per cent of the world’s cacao.

The second report by Christian Aid shows that poor crop yields in those countries has led to a roughly 400 per cent increase in the price of cacao in recent years.

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Busra Bardallo of Esta Chocolates in Kitchener, Ont. told CityNews that similar to wheat or corn, environmental conditions will impact the price.

“Just like any product that’s a commodity that is growing in a very specific part of the world in a very specific geographic region, if there is something that is going to impact impact crop yields like a really hot year or if there is drought or if there is too much rain, you’re gong to see the impacts.”

She added that those impacts are specifically price increases.

“Of course that’s passing down to everybody that is in the industry right now. Of course, we’ve noticed it too and probably even consumers have noticed it when they are out in any retail store and they are buying chocolate, the price is inching up a little bit.”

Bardallo said Esta Chocolates is always looking for ways to keep the costs reasonable but there is only so much they can do. She said along with their premium products, they have many items that will suit any budget.