Devastating virus attacks cocoa trees, threatens global chocolate supply

Published 2024년 4월 25일

Tridge summary

A study from the University of Texas at Arlington reveals that a virus transmitted by scale insects is causing significant losses in cocoa production in Ghana and other African countries, with losses ranging from 15 to 50 percent. The virus, spread through insects that damage cocoa trees, has led to the loss of over 254 million cocoa trees in Ghana, despite efforts to control the spread through tree cutting and breeding resilient trees. The study presents a costly vaccine for cocoa trees as a solution and also suggests mathematical modeling to optimize planting distances to prevent virus spread, aiming to balance disease control with productive farming. The research also highlights the threat of climate change to chocolate production, with the potential for the industry to vanish by 2050, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable solutions in cocoa production.

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Original content

A virus that spreads rapidly in cocoa trees and beans endangers production of the world's most popular candy supply, according to a study by researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington. Experts detail that the infectious agent is attacking the plants of Ghana—one of the largest cocoa producers on the planet, along with other African countries—causing losses of between 15 and 50 percent. The harmful virus is transmitted through insects called scale insects that eat the leaves, buds and flowers of trees, causing a threat to the world's supply of chocolate, the scientists say in the article published in the scientific journal PLoS One . Benito Chen-Charpentier, a mathematics professor at the University of Texas and author of Cocoa Sustainability, explained that pesticides do not work well against insects, "forcing farmers to try to prevent the spread of the disease by cutting down infected trees." and raising resilient trees.” "But despite these efforts, Ghana has lost more ...

Source: Milenio