Cadmium and chocolate: scientific research solutions

Expert view 16 September 2025
Cadmium is found naturally in some soils, and may build up in cocoa beans. This heavy metal, which is not good for health, is now a major challenge for the cocoa sector. A video explaining the issue with Xavier Argout, cocoa geneticist with CIRAD.
Cocoa beans © Cocoa4Future

Cocoa beans © Cocoa4Future

The essentials

  • The issue of cadmium in cocoa growing has been under scrutiny for several years, notably in Latin America. Since 2020, CIRAD and the European Union have been working to find solutions, alongside the countries concerned.
  • The Clima-LoCa project set out to introduce ppropriate farming practices, breed varieties less likely to build up cadmium,  help producers build a sustainable, competitive cocoa sector that satfeguards consumer health.

 

See also