The cocoa industry is not nearly as harmful to the environment as society would expect because of low income crop many farms can not afford pesticides or chemicals which results in a nearly organic farms. The industry is controlled through small farms which aren’t able to afford machines, resulting in the work being done through manual labor. The byproducts of the cocoa are used to form fuel and fertilizers to give back to the environment. Through the combination of the low economic value of the crop, and the support of different companies to support a sustainable lifestyle at the farms the cocoa industry doesn’t have much of an effect on the environment.
Chocolate was first harvested by the Aztec, Toltec, and Maya civilization 3,000 years ago. The ancient civilization made a drink out of the bean and drank it during important ceremonies, the bean was also used as a currency (Head, Brandon; 2005). The bean was taken by Christopher Columbus to Spain in 1502 after his fourth voyage. Columbus delivered the cocoa drink to Spain, while the drink was bitter Spain added sugar
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to it and began selling it. Within a hundred years the drink had spread through Europe and the demand for cocoa began. Cocoa beans can be harvested all year but most of the crop is gathered in two main periods from October to February and from May to August. Cocoa grows the best in tropical humid environments. The crop is first cut with machetes and the beans are taken out and collected in shallow boxes with perforated bottoms to allow drainage (International Cocoa Organization, 1998). The beans are then drained and allowed a period of six to seven days to ferment. Through this fermenting period the beans are turned and because of the mass amounts of fermentation taking place the beans create heat. The process of turning the beans is quite simple, the farmer moves the beans to a new box and in the process the beans are turned sufficiently (Amano Artisan Chocolate). This turning process is important from a sustainability standpoint because it does not use machines therefore does not give off harmful pollutants. The fermenting process gives the beans a much stronger and more favorable taste. The heat both uniforms the beans and kills the bacteria. The major by product of cocoa beans are there shells.
The shells hold eight to ten percent of the cocoa bean weight and through the processing of the beans the shells are blown off (Head, Brandon; 2005). They are then used for fertilizer, mulch, and fuel. It is used for fuel very efficiently, each ton of cocoa bean shells used for the generation of electricity will replace half a ton of coal. The fuel was first tested at the largest electric utility plant in New Hampshire, Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH), and has been implemented there as a possible substitute (Roos, Gina; 2010). It is important to reuse the shells especially for mulch and fertilizer’s because the process replenishes lost nutrients in the soil. Because of the low income of cocoa farming many farmers can not afford chemicals for their crop causing their farms to be run in a organic environment which is more cost
efficient. Some farmers established their crop in thinned forest because it retains biodiversity, soil fertility, and lessens soil erosion rates, yet growing in these types of environments is more labor intensive (International Cocoa Organization, 1998). The farmers also grow many different agriculture products to accommodate market fluctuations, floods, droughts, and diseases. Due to widespread clearing of forest for plantation loss of ecosystem is a major problem, especially because they are slow to regenerate. While their are some large cocoa plantations, 70% of the worlds cocoa production is grown by small holders which lessens its effects on the environment (Head, Brandon; 2005). The few large cocoa plantations effect the environment by reducing biodiversity, reducing soil fertility, and causing soil erosion which finds its way into streams and rivers. Through education to the farmers on the plantation they can become much more environmentally friendly. The Rainforest Alliance and Cloud Nine Chocolates have created an Eco-OK program to encourage sustainable management of the plantations, they have started certifying farms in Ecuador. Mars Chocolate and Fair Trade have been working towards a “Sustainable Cocoa Initiative” to teach farmers to increase productivity, quality, and sustainability (Sustainable Cocoa Initiative). Fair trade works with Mars chocolate to certify people to inspect cocoa farms, and ensure that they are run sustainably. Mars Chocolate has made a promise to use only certified sustainable cocoa by 2020, they have also made an effort to help farmers with economics and with issues pertaining to production of sustainable cocoa (International Cocoa Organization, 2005). They have been working with industrial partners and stakeholders to set a goal of reaching 300,000 farmers where 70% of cocoa is farmed in Western Africa. While they are the first company to make this leap into buying sustainable ingredients, they believe that more will follow. Through efforts made on companies and farm owners side cocoa farming is very efficient and has actually given back to the world. It is more efficient economically and socially to have a sustainable outlook when harvesting cocoa and therefore farms commit to a sustainable organic tactic.
During Valentine’s week alone, millions of pounds of chocolate candies alone are sold (“Who consumes the most chocolate,” 2012, para 8). This naturally creates a demand for product, which in turns causes a need for ingredients. The main component in chocolate, of course, is cocoa. Since Côte d’Ivoire provides 40 percent of the world’s supply of this crucial ingredient (Losch, 2002, p. 206), it merits investigation i...
Archaeological excavations at Pueblo Bonito have also revealed how extensive the Anasazi trade network was. Organic residue analysis of ceramics have shown the presence of cacao. The cacao residues were found on pottery sherds that were likely from cylindrical jars. These jars were special containers attributable almost exclusively to Pueblo Bonito and had been deposited in caches at the site. This first known use of cacao north of the Mexican border indicates exchange with cultivators in Mesoamerica from approximately A.D. 1000–1125 (Crown and Hurst,
During the time frame of 1450-1750, the Columbian Exchange was at its height of power and influence. Many products were introduced from foreign lands, like animals such as cattle, chickens, and horse, and agriculture such as potatoes, bananas, and avocados. Diseases also became widespread and persisted to distant lands where it wreaked devastation upon the non-immunized people. One such influential product during this time period was the cacao, or more commonly known as chocolate. First discovered and used in the Americas, cacao beans quickly traveled to and became a popular treat in European lands. It was valuable in the New World and even used as a currency by the Aztecs. Only the rich and privileged were allowed to purchase the valuable item in the beginning. Cacao was even used in religious ceremonies by the native people. When it moved to Europe and other lands, it also created a lot of stir. The cacao plant had quite a large impact upon the Columbian Exchange.
Though, the origin of the cacao bean is indefinite, the first instant that Europeans encountered cacao beans is alleged to have been in 1502 between Christopher Columbus and the ancient Mayan civilization. Initial impressions were less than satisfactory. Christopher Columbus having believed the beans were “shriveled almonds” (Rosenblum 6), . During Hernan Cortez’s voyage to the Aztec Empire of the Americas during 1517, he was introduced to the Emperor Montezuma’s favorite drink “chocolatl”. Though, he also was not very appreciative of the drink, Cortez was fascinated with the very idea that cacao beans were used as a form of currency among the Aztec. The Spanish would pay Aztec laborers in cacao beans, as they would load their treasure ships with deposits of silver and gold. For this reason, the Spanish nicknamed the cacao bean “black gold” (Lopez 19). Still, it was Spanish monks and missionaries who recognized the value of cacao beans as a medial t...
When cacao became available in Spain, it was modified with cinnamon and other spices; sugar was used to sweeten the mix. Somehow they were able to keep their drink invention among them for nearly 100 years before it escaped to Europe. Sweetened chocolate became an extreme craze for the continent. In a letter of 1779, a viceroy noted: “In this country [New Spain] cacao is primary food not only for persons of means as in other countries, but also among the poor people.” It seems that the people of Spain were content with sharing this savory chocolate among all the people, rather than those in other parts of Europe.
The Pecan tree is a native tree to North America. When early European settlers traveled across the sea to settle in the New World, they found pecan trees located in numerous places in this new land. Since then, the pecan tree has become one of the most important orchard species in terms of acreage. Indians began using pecans almost 8000 years ago in what is now Texas. The first budded pecan trees were produced in Louisiana in the mid-1800s and orchards have been established throughout the Southern states. The first recorded shipment of pecans to England was documented in 1761, by Spanish and European explorers (Anderson and Crocker, 2004). In 1917, a commercial shipment of pecans came out of Georgia and since then, Georgia has been the leading producer of pecans. Although Georgia is the leading producer, in some years collections of pecans from wild trees in Oklahoma and Texas surpass the production in Georgia.
While the new industries have had a positive impact on the economies, it did not help the environment. Before the Revolutions, people relied on charcoal, but trees were scarce and took v...
The cocoa industry is made up of small scale family farms with low economic standings and a few large scale plantations which control the cocoa market. Due to large scale cocoa plantations small scale farms are struggling economically which has resulted in a fragile unsustainable society. The use of hybrid cocoa crops has made it easy for large scale plantation to control the market and remove negotiating leverage from small family farms. Family farms have grown accustomed to the use of child labor, and as a result have negatively influenced the education of many children in major cocoa producing countries. Family small scale farms have had to compete with better yielding crops and little wealth, in response they have grown accustomed to child
Central Idea: Explain how cocoa beans are processed to produce the chocolate we all know and love
Phasing out animal agriculture and replacing it with stronger, safer plant cultivation would greatly reduce pollution released into the environment as animal waste, burning fossil fuels, and contaminated water runoff. The animal waste produced in factory farms is dumped into immense open-air lago...
David Robson unites chocolate lovers and ecologists alike with his article asking if junk food is better than healthy food for the environment. He researches the carbon footprint for the production of one hundred calories of food. He doesn’t include any macromolecules in his research, his research is aimed purely at measuring the ratio between carbon dioxide production and calories. Regrettably he reminds readers that this is not an excuse for a root canal, but a thought to keep in the back of our minds when we consider a well-balanced diet (Robson, David). The general field of study his article best represents is Ecology. It relates to the information covered in the textbook and this course through metabolism and ecosystems.
Cocoa's Ancient Travelogue The growing of cocoa plants dates back to 1500 BC when it is believed the Olmec Indians grew the cocoa beans as a domestic crop. At around 250 BC to 900 CE the drinking of an unsweetened cocoa drink was prevalent, but only amongst the elite of Mayan society. It was a sophisticated drink even in those days! When the Mayans migrated to the northern parts of South America, they took their cocoa beans with them.
"Food: The History of Chocolate." Birmingham Post 11 Dec. 2004, First ed., Features sec.: 46. Print
Marketing objectives should be presented to the CEO in written format, and respond to each of the following statements: 1. Compatibility: How is the objective compatible with the organisation’s strategic direction and purpose? To achieve this, we have 5 priorities: Building a customer and store-led culture and team Generating sustainable sales momentum in Food Evolving our Drinks business to provide even more value and convenience to customers Empowering our portfolio businesses to pursue strategies to deliver shareholder value Becoming a lean retailer through end-to-end process and systems excellence It all starts with building a great retail team that listens to customers, team members and suppliers. Through our Voice of the
First of all, as for company internal problem, in terms of the material, with cocoa trees getting older, they are more prone to suffer from disease. As a result that, both the quantity and quality of the harvest is not as good as before, however, here are more and more demand for cocoa, which grows 2% annually with the farm yields keeping decreased, which means the situation now is unsustainable any more. 5.3 Opportunities. 5.4 Threats. 6.Recommended future strategic actions