Could Chocolate Actually Go Extinct In 40 Years? Thanks global warming.....

[lightbright]

How can you deal with horrible news if the horrible news is losing one of the best ways of dealing with horrible news?

An article from Erin Brodwin for the Business Insider blared the following headline, "Chocolate is on track to go extinct in 40 years." Apparently, the concern is that cacao plants, which are the natural source of chocolate (otherwise known as happiness), may go extinct by 2050.

In the words of singer-song writer Kate Miller-Heidke, are you bleeping kidding me? How can you drown your sorrows in chocolate without chocolate? Mayonnaise doesn't quite work the same. Is this for real or is this (snicker, snicker) a joke?

Well, cacao plants seem to be increasingly victims of fungal disease and climate change. Climate change may increase coastal flooding, worsen wildfires and hurricanes, foster the spread of insect-borne diseases, destroy coral reefs, threaten hundreds of animal species, and erode our current way of life, but jeopardize chocolate? That would cross the line.

The threat of fungal disease is not new. Back in 2010, Michael Moyer wrote for Scientific American about how the spread of witch’s broom, frosty pod, and other wonderfully named fungal disease have essentially destroyed cacao trees in Central America, their original natural habitat. Scientists are worried that these fungal diseases could jump to other parts of the world and wreak similar havoc on the beloved chocolate-producing plant.

Cacao plants, the seeds of which are used to make chocolate and cocoa, grow in the


The problem is that cacao plants are somewhat Emo and quite sensitive. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website describes how cacao trees need very specific "rainforest"-esque conditions: fairly uniform temperatures, high humidity, abundant rain, nitrogen-rich soil, and protection from the wind. These conditions currently exist just 20° north and south of the equator (or perhaps in an even narrower 10° north and south of the equator). Right now Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Indonesia are the leading producers of chocolate, but the two West African countries generate over half of the world's chocolate.


That leaves the world's chocolate supply rather vulnerable to even small changes in climate. In fact, climate models predict that by the year 2050 a 3.8°F or 2.1°C increase in temperatures and drier conditions will occur in these areas and may further shrink the possible growing areas. Dark times indeed (and I don't mean dark chocolate).


https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...g-done-to-prevent-this-disaster/#70c6430d540f

 

[Simply_Black]

The plants are grown in too many countries on various continent around the world for there ever to be a threat against it.

 

[Cannibal]

Chocolate? Man will be in another place in 40 years. We probably won't be here, but I truly am a little scared for my children.

 

[Mo-Better]

With the asshole that's presently in the White House, the possibility of running out of chocolate 40 years from now is of no concern. Our focus needs to be on ousting this president and his no account republican support group.

There's plenty of time to concern ourselves with chocolate.

 

[Shadow22]

Just now paying attention .

Got damn what's next worrying about climate change and bees (not talking bout wu tang) when the last one drops dead. Yet brainless niggas like broads worrying about who the well off is marrying and sleeping with.

 

[kain]

I thought were several plants that produces cocoa?

 

[regulus]

Chocolate? Man will be in another place in 40 years. We probably won't be here, but I truly am a little scared for my children.

It already happened with bananas once and is happening again.