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Chocolate - Coggle Diagram
Chocolate
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Industry & Economics
Few big companies dominate (Nestlé, Mars, Mondelez).
Cocoa prices = unstable, makes farmer income risky.
“Income volatility is one of the most pressing risks facing cocoa smallholders” (UNCTAD, 2016).
Certifications (Fairtrade, organic) try to improve farmer prices, but results are mixed. Fairtrade (2024): “Farmers reported increased stability in cooperative support, but incomes remain below living income benchmarks.”
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Environmental impacts
Deforestation → forests cut for new cocoa farms, esp. in West Africa. WCF (2025): “Cocoa is a driver of deforestation in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, where forest cover has declined sharply over the past 30 years.”
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Chemicals/pesticides → affect ecosystems (Kongor et al., 2024).
Climate change → “Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns threaten cocoa suitability in major producing regions” (Kongor et al., 2024).
History
Origin in the Amazon → used by Maya and Aztec for rituals and drinks. “Cacao was an important beverage in pre-Columbian societies, associated with religion, health, and wealth” (Montagna et al., 2019).
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Plantation economies during colonial times → linked to slavery and inequality. UNCTAD (2016) notes: “The history of cocoa is intertwined with colonialism and the exploitation of labour in tropical regions.”
Today: everyday global product, but history shapes trade patterns.
Geography
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Most value added in consuming countries (Europe, USA) through processing & branding.
UNCTAD (2016): “Producers often capture less than 6 per cent of the final value of a chocolate bar.”
Social Issues
Child labour still reported. UNCTAD (2016): “Child labour remains a significant challenge in West African cocoa farms despite international commitments.”
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Gender issues → women often excluded from land ownership. Climate Focus (2020): “Women in cocoa-producing households are frequently restricted to unpaid labour roles, with limited access to land and credit.”
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