Unrest in Africa Could Lead to Massive Fair Trade Chocolate Drought in 2014

Unrest in Western Africa, especially the Ivory Coast, where a whopping 40 percent of the world's chocolate is grown and produced, could lead to a serious sustainable chocolate drought, according to a story in the Daily Mail. Currently, 10 percent of the world's chocolate is produced in a sustainable and Fair Trade manner, but recent turbulence in Africa threatens a drastic reduction leading the world's supply of Fair Trade chocolate to run out by 2014.

According to the story, many have fled the Ivory Coast, and Fair Trade training programs have grinded to a halt because farmers fear being harmed. The price of chocolate is expected to increase dramatically this year. In fact, it has already jumped up 10 percent.

"Supplies of sustainable cocoa are set to run out, it's that simple," said Angus Kennedy, the editor of Kennedy's Confection and a leading British chocolatier. "The Ivory Coast is a complete no-go area for cocoa traders as it's too dangerous, so training new farmers and trying to cut problems in the region is now, mostly impossible."