Chocolate prices are increasingly high And we are also realizing it now that Easter approaches, with traditional eggs already on display in supermarkets. Just yesterday, Codacons published a survey that reports an average increase in the price of chocolate eggs by about compared to last year.
But this increase is not new: for some time, Cocoa is going through a deep crisiswith prices that have reached real records, exceeding $ 10,000 per tonne. The causes? We know that climate change, parasites of plants and geopolitical instability were decisive factors but there is A further element that weighs on the sector and of which there is very little talk: the illegal gold mines.
What do illegal gold mines have to do with cocoa
Second an investigation by Financial Timesin Ghana – one of the main cocoa manufacturers in the world – the illegal extraction of gold is further aggravating the already critical situation of chocolate.
The phenomenon has deep roots: Ghana, known as the “gold coast” during the colonial period, has in fact a long history linked to the Auriferaction. But today The illegal mines are multiplying, destroying vast areas of cocoa cultivation and contaminating soil and water With toxic substances such as mercury, arsenic and lead.
The Ghana Cocoa Board estimates that over 19,000 hectares of plantations have been converted into illegal mines and this situation is creating a vicious circle: the growing difficulty in maintaining sustainable profits from cocoa crops pushes more and more farmers to abandon the fields to seek luck in the mines. But in doing so, nothing is done more than further worsening the environmental and productive crisis.
The new strategies in the cocoa sector
To deal with this emergency, some companies are exploring new strategies to enhance the entire fruit of cocoa, not just the beans. This approach, known as Upcycling, provides for the use of the pulp and peel (today considered waste), reducing waste and creating new sustainable food products.
The pulp, for example, can be dehydrated and transformed into dust, then used to make drinks and snacks. Its sugars, on the other hand, are extracted to create a non -refined sweetener with a characteristic flavor, to be used always within other products. Finally, the peel can be shredded and used to produce cocoa rich in fiber.
Some companies, such as Barry Callebaut, have already launched lines of ingredients derived from the entire fruit and also Lindt & Sprüngli, in collaboration with the startup Koa, has developed a bar that includes the cocoa pulp, a novelty that is not yet available in Italy.
To make these solutions more and more widespread, too Consumers play a fundamental role. A study published on Q open He has shown that emotional communication campaigns, capable of arousing feelings of anger or joy, are more effective in the short term to raise awareness of the purchase of sustainable products but for a more lasting impact, the rational and detailed information is more incisive and able to guide long -term conscious choices.
What we can do as consumers
In our little one we have great power. With Easter upside down, but also every time we shop, it is important to reflect on the impact of our choices. Opt for certified products, which ensure dignified working conditions and respect the environment, can be a fundamental step to break the vicious circle that is suffocating the cocoa manufacturing communities and promote a more sustainable future.
