Reviewed by Lexie CornerFeb 17 2025
Climate change and biodiversity loss pose significant risks to the future supply of chocolate. A new study shows that sustainable farming practices, which support pollinators and reduce climate risks, could help maintain and even enhance global cocoa yields.
Harvesting cocoa in agroforests of Bahia, Brazil. Image Credit: Patrick H. Böttger
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is a key cash crop for 4–6 million smallholder farmers in the tropics, supporting a global chocolate industry valued at over USD 100 billion annually. Growing demand and farmer dependence on cocoa have led to the expansion of plantations and the intensification of agricultural practices, often at the cost of biodiversity and long-term sustainability.
The scientists also discovered farm management practices that can enhance crop resilience while improving yields without expanding plantations into forests.
Conducted in Brazil, Ghana, and Indonesia—countries responsible for 33 % of global cocoa production—the study examined key factors affecting yields. Findings indicate that increasing pollination rates above current levels could boost yields by 20 %, suggesting that many cocoa farms do not receive optimal pollination.
Beyond pollination, the study found that areas experiencing temperatures up to 7 °C higher had 20–31 % lower cocoa yields, underscoring the vulnerability of cocoa-producing regions to climate change.
Cocoa is pollinated by tiny insects such as midges and thrips, and it comes as quite a surprise that most of the time there simply isn’t enough pollination happening to produce the cocoa crop that is possible.
Dr. Acheampong Atta-Boateng, Study Co-Author and Scientific Researcher, University of Oxford
To promote sustainable cocoa production, researchers recommend pollination-friendly practices such as maintaining leaf litter and understory biomass, preserving soil organic matter, providing moderate shade, and reducing agricultural chemical use. These measures not only support pollinator populations but also help regulate plantation temperatures and improve soil health, enhancing plantation resilience over time.
This research shows that sustainable agricultural methods can significantly improve cocoa yields without farm expansion or intensification. By adopting biodiversity-centred, climate-resilient farming techniques, the cocoa sector can both increase production and safeguard farmers' livelihoods.
Dr. Tonya Lander, Study First Author and Research Associate, University of Oxford
Dr. Tom Wanger of Westlake University, China, added, “The rising demand for cocoa and the short-term economic benefits to farmers has led to plantation expansion and ecological homogenization at the expense of biodiversity and vital ecosystem services, like pollination. This study highlights the long-term risks of this approach, and how pollination can be a solution that works alongside climate-resilient agricultural systems to achieve long-term, ecologically and financially sustainable solutions.”
Journal Reference:
Lander, T. A. et. al. (2025) Global chocolate supply is limited by low pollination and high temperatures. Communications Earth & Environment. doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02072-z