Think
of a world without your favorite candy bar. It could happen. Candy
makers say that we are running out of chocolate.
The issue is one of supply and demand: Worldwide production of cocoa
(chocolate’s main ingredient) is down while chocolate consumption
is up.
Experts say that the increased consumption of chocolate is a result
of rapidly developing countries, such as China and India, where
people consume more of the delicious treat. It is not likely that
this will change ? hardly anyone would want to stop eating chocolate,
after all ? so the only solution may be to increase the world’s
supply of cocoa.
The world’s largest cocoa producers are Ivory Coast and Ghana, in
Africa. Both have been affected by water shortages and sick plants.
This has reduced how much cocoa the countries have been able to
produce recently. Also, many farmers there have stopped growing
cocoa in order to grow easier crops, like corn.
Experts say that the only way to save the world from running out
of chocolate is to create new varieties of the cocoa plant. So,
researchers in England are working to create stronger and higher-producing
cocoa plants. They named their work “Operation Wonka,” after one
famous candy maker.