Candy prices have surged 44% since 2021, driven by a global cocoa-bean shortage. Two groups of innovators are working to reinvent chocolate and secure the supply chain. Traditional cocoa farming faces threats from climate change, disease, and pests, which have devastated harvests in West Africa, the region producing over 70% of the world's supply.
One group is developing lab-grown or precision-fermented chocolate, creating the key compounds without the bean. The other is focusing on breeding new, disease-resistant cocoa varieties and improving agricultural practices to boost yields. These efforts aim to provide a stable, sustainable, and potentially more affordable future for the beloved confection.
Source: Wall Street Journal US Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing