Ivory Coast fights cocoa smuggling and mass deforestation

Published Sep 15, 2024

Tridge summary

Côte d’Ivoire, the world's largest cocoa producer, is grappling with significant challenges including cocoa smuggling and deforestation. In 2023, the country produced approximately 2 million tons of cocoa, but the official prices set by the government do not satisfy many producers, driving them to sell to traffickers who smuggle the beans across borders. This results in a significant financial loss for the government and contributes to deforestation due to the expansion of cocoa cultivation. The deforestation issue has led to international pressure, with the European Union planning to ban untraceable cocoa imports by the end of the year. This pressure has forced farmers to migrate to Liberia, where they are destroying virgin forests. To address these issues, the government and companies need to implement measures such as increasing prices paid to farmers, improving traceability, and balancing economic measures with environmental policies.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

As the world’s largest cocoa producer, Côte d’Ivoire faces challenges that affect both its economy and the environment. One of the main problems is the smuggling of cocoa to neighboring countries such as Guinea and Liberia, a practice that has caused huge financial losses and exacerbated the country’s deforestation crisis. In 2023, the country produced around 2 million tons of cocoa, representing an important source of revenue for the government. However, many producers find the official prices set by the state unsatisfactory, preferring to sell their crops to traffickers. These, in turn, transport the beans illegally across the border, where they can command higher prices. This year alone, 150,000 tons of cocoa were smuggled, resulting in a loss of almost €400 million for the Ivorian government. The Challenge of Deforestation Another critical aspect is the environmental impact. Cocoa cultivation is the main cause of deforestation in Côte d’Ivoire. In just 60 years, the country ...

Source: Mercado Do Cacau