Results & impact 19 April 2023
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Cocoa
How can we intensify cocoa production in a sustainable way, to satisfy growing demand? The sustainability of the value chain depends on its capacity to adapt to climate-related constraints (particularly pests and diseases) and pressure on resources. It must also be attractive to small-scale cocoa producers. CIRAD and its partners are working to help producers and players further downstream in the supply chain develop a sustainable cocoa economy.
The figures for cocoa
- Five million producers in the global South produce 4.5 million tonnes
- Cocoa plantings cover more than 8 million hectares
- Yields vary from 150 to 2500 kg/ha/year
- Consumption will have increased by 20% by 2020-2025
- Ivory Coast accounts for 43% of total global output
- Four African countries supply more than 70%
The issues
For producers and technical centres
Ageing farmers and plantings, a drop in soil fertility, and low productivity are exacerbating competition with other, more lucrative crops, or more attractive non-agricultural activities. For these players, the challenge is to:
- respond to ever-growing demand
- safeguard and boost their land and human assets
- live decently on the income drawn from their farm
- innovate, both technically and economically, to make the crop more attractive.
For industrialists, chocolate makers and consumers
Global demand is growing and diversifying. For these players, the challenge is to:
- respect food safety standards and regulations
- ensure that production systems respect the social and environmental context
- obtain information relating to product origin.
Related news items
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Just out 5 December 2022
Four ambitions for a sustainable cocoa sector by 2032
Event 16 November 2022
The future for cocoa growing | Global research is on the case
Related projects
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See also
Coffee
Returning to ecologically viable systems and boosting the profitability of agroforestry systems that favour smallholders in more than 40 countries.
Sugarcane
Building the sugarcane sector of the future by helping producers make the agroecological transition.
Coconut
Revitalizing coconut, a plant with a thousand uses: knowing and making better use of its genetic diversity and ensuring sustainability, from production to processing.