Politics / Australia
Australia politics page with daily media monitoring across ABC News Australia, SBS News and SMH/The Age, structured summaries of domestic political developments and a country-level press overview.
Chocolate giants are investing millions in lab-grown cocoa — here's why
Summary
Easter serves as a peak season for chocolate sales, with significant reliance on cacao sourced primarily from West Africa. Recent challenges such as extreme weather, crop diseases, and aging plantations have led to a dramatic increase in cacao prices, impacting consumer costs for chocolate products.
In response to these challenges, major chocolate companies are investing heavily in alternative production methods, including lab-grown cacao. Brands like Cadbury and Mars are exploring innovative technologies such as gene editing to create more resilient cacao plants.
International Chocolate Supply plans to introduce cultured cocoa to the U.S. market, developed in collaboration with food tech companies. However, regulatory hurdles exist, as products made with novel technologies may require pre-market approval under food standards.
Concerns arise regarding the investment in lab-grown ingredients versus traditional agricultural practices. Industry stakeholders emphasize the need for sustainable practices that focus on soil health and land stewardship.
Perspectives
short
Support for lab-grown cocoa
- Invests millions in lab-grown cocoa to ensure a stable supply chain
- Explores gene editing technology to enhance cacao resilience
- Plans to release cultured cocoa products to meet market demands
Opposition to lab-grown cocoa
- Questions the necessity of lab-grown ingredients over traditional farming
- Advocates for reinvestment in soil and land stewardship
- Expresses skepticism about consumer acceptance of lab-grown products
Neutral / Shared
- Highlights the impact of climate change and diseases on cacao prices
- Notes the regulatory requirements for new food technologies
Metrics
price
$8 USD
cost of a standard 180 gram block of Cadbury dairy milk chocolate
This price increase reflects the impact of cacao supply issues on consumer products.
the same item costs $8
price_increase
200%
surge in cacao prices due to extreme weather and crop disease
Such a dramatic increase indicates severe supply chain vulnerabilities.
cacao prices surged by almost 200%
percentage
70%
proportion of cacao sourced from West Africa
This dependency highlights the global impact of regional disruptions.
70% of them come from West Africa
previous_price
$5 USD
cost of a standard 180 gram block of Cadbury dairy milk chocolate in 2021
This comparison illustrates the extent of price inflation in the chocolate market.
a standard 180 gram block of Cadbury dairy milk chocolate cost $5 in 2021
Key entities
Timeline highlights
00:00–05:00
Easter significantly boosts chocolate sales, highlighting the industry's reliance on cacao from West Africa, which is threatened by climate change and diseases. This vulnerability has led to soaring cacao prices, prompting brands like Cadbury to increase product costs and explore alternative production methods.
- Easter drives significant chocolate sales, underscoring the industrys dependence on cacao from regions like West Africa, which faces climate change and disease threats. This vulnerability impacts cacao prices and availability
- Recent weather extremes and crop diseases have caused cacao prices to soar, leading brands like Cadbury to raise product costs. In response, chocolate manufacturers are exploring alternative cacao production methods
- Major companies such as Mondalez and Mars are heavily investing in lab-grown cacao technologies to develop resilient cacao plants. These efforts aim to stabilize the supply chain and reduce risks linked to traditional farming
- International Chocolate Supply is set to launch cultured cocoa in the U.S, collaborating with a food tech firm for development
- The National Food Standards Code requires chocolate to contain at least 20% bean derivatives, posing challenges for the market entry of lab-grown alternatives. Companies may face regulatory obstacles before these products can be legally sold
- Chocolatier Jessica Pettermont and others argue for prioritizing sustainable farming over lab-grown ingredients. This viewpoint highlights the need for improved soil health and environmental practices in the chocolate sector