Chocolate comes from cocoa, which is a tree. That makes it a plant. Chocolate is salad.

Cocoa production is a major industry worldwide due to the love for chocolate cocoa powder and other products. The majority of cocoa is produced in West Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana being the two largest producers. Other significant cocoa producing countries include Indonesia, Nigeria, Ecuador, Cameroon and Brazil.

Analysis of Data

From our analysis, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, both West African countries, account for half of the world’s cocoa production.

In addition to this, three other African countries – Nigeria, Cameroon and Sierra Leone make the top 11 producers. The other countries that make the list are on the table below.

• Africa accounts for 68% of global cocoa production
• Out of the top 10/11, there are 5 African countries (4 West African)
• There is no European producer of cocoa
• Indonesia is the top producer (95%) of cocoa in Asia

Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana Boycott

Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are the top producers of cocoa beans in the world. In 2019, these West African countries and stopped forward cocoa sales for the 2020/2021 season to address low prices and demand fair wages for farmers. The boycott resulted in most chocolate companies agreeing to pay a living income differential (LID), a payment which ensures farmers earn “a living income” from purchasers. This drew attention to the challenges faced by cocoa farmers and sparked discussions on industry sustainability and fairness. In 2022, the two countries boycotted the World Cocoa Foundation meeting over price dispute and farmers’ income, following broken promises by traders and companies on the LID.

Fairtrade for Farmers

The production of cocoa involves a significant amount of labor, as the cocoa beans must be harvested by hand. The beans are then fermented and dried before being sold to chocolate manufacturers. Despite the high demand for cocoa, the industry faces several challenges, including low prices for farmers, environmental concerns, and labor issues.

People eat a lot of cocoa and chocolate all over Europe and North America but the cocoa tree does not grow (substantially) in these countries; they buy cocoa from Africa. Many organizations are working to address these challenges and improve sustainability in the cocoa industry. There are growing calls for Africa to process the raw materials, rather than exporting it.

Overall, cocoa production plays a significant role in both the global economy and the chocolate industry.

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