Cacao is a sacred plant medicine that humans have been consumed for thousands of years. It is considered ‘food of the gods,’ a superfruit that supports our physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.

But right now, this ancient and precious plant is under threat.

In this month’s blog, we’ll explore how climate change is impacting cacao in two key cacao-growing regions, Africa and Latin America, and what this means for the future of cacao, for the people who grow it, and for businesses like ours.

Fino de Aroma Cacao beans drying the traditional way - in the sun for two weeks.

Cacao, Climate and Conscious Choices

As the climate crisis deepens, cacao farmers from West Africa to Central and South America are facing increasing hardship, challenges, and loss.

Yields are dropping, pests and disease are spreading, and traditional growing methods are becoming harder to sustain. This isn't just a challenge for farmers, it's a challenge for every business that works with cacao.

And it’s a wake-up call for those of us who love it!

Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall are wreaking havoc on delicate cacao ecosystems. Trees that once thrived in specific microclimates are now exposed to longer dry seasons, intense heat, and irregular weather patterns.

Many farmers work with native varieties of cacao that are more genetically diverse and resilient, but these crops are often lower-yielding and slower-growing, Fungal diseases are also becoming more prevalent, and pests are on the rise, further reducing yields.

As a result, many farmers are being forced to either shift their heirloom crops to GMO, or clear more forest to access new fertile land, accelerating deforestation and biodiversity loss.

And there’s another layer to this: much of the cacao in these regions is grown by indigenous or small-scale farming communities who rely on traditional ecological knowledge. However, it is becoming harder to apply when the climate no longer follows predictable rhythms.

It’s a painful cycle, climate change reduces productivity, farmers clear land to survive, and this land clearing further drives climate change. Without support, training, and better infrastructure, many smallholder farmers are being left behind, economically and ecologically.

This is where Ritual Cacao can help. By offering a fair price to the farmers. ensuring we pay on time and when we promise, and ensuring we buy a consistent amount, gives the farmers security, protection and support.

Fino de Aroma beans, Puerto Quito, Ecuadorian Choco Andino region

Climate: The Situation in Africa

West, and Central Africa, particularly Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, are responsible for around 60% of the world’s cacao supply. But despite being the backbone of the global chocolate industry, it is well documented that cacao farmers in these regions often use child labour, are underpaid and under-resourced, and climate change is compounding their challenges.

💰 Mining Threats

One major but often overlooked factor is the expansion of mining activities, particularly for gold, bauxite, and other minerals. These operations lead to deforestation, soil degradation, and water contamination, directly threatening cacao-growing regions. As mining corporations clear vast tracts of land, farmers lose access to fertile soil and clean water, forcing them to either abandon their farms or struggle with declining yields. The environmental destruction caused by mining exacerbates the very issues cacao farmers already face due to climate change.

Without intervention, this dual threat of economic exploitation and environmental destruction, could push many smallholder cacao farmers out of business entirely. Supporting sustainable farming practices, fair trade policies, and stricter environmental regulations on mining are critical steps toward protecting both cacao farmers and the delicate ecosystems they depend on.

👶🏾 Child Labour

Child labor remains a pressing concern in the cacao industries of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. A 2020 report estimated that approximately 1.56 million children were engaged in child labour on cacao farms in these two countries.

This issue is deeply intertwined with factors such as poverty, limited access to education, and the seasonal labor demands of cacao harvesting.

Recent developments underscore the ongoing nature of the problem. In October 2024, a group of Ghanaian cacao farmers filed a complaint with the state regulator, Cocobod, highlighting critical issues such as the need for a living income, deforestation, and the persistence of child labour. This action reflects the complex challenges that persist within the cacao supply chain and the necessity for continued, multifaceted interventions.

Addressing child labor in cacao production requires sustained commitment from governments, industry stakeholders, and the global community. When you buy from ethical cacao companies like Ritual Cacao you can be sure that the rights and well-being of children in cocoa-growing regions are protected.

🐛 Climate Change, Crop Diseases and Pests on the Rise

Climate change is increasing the vulnerability of cacao trees to a growing range of pests and diseases, which are spreading more rapidly across cacao-growing regions. Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns create ideal conditions for infestations, leading to significant crop damage and declining yields, especially for farmers who lack access to preventative resources and agricultural support.

These longer dry spells, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events are disrupting traditional cacao farming methods, making cultivation increasingly difficult. Without urgent adaptation measures, some regions may soon become unsuitable for cacao production, threatening both the livelihoods of farmers and the global supply of this essential crop.

FIno de Aroma Cacao Chakra in Mishuali, Tena, Ecuadorian Amazon

Climate: Central and South America

Cacao has its roots in the ancient cultures of Central and South America, from the Maya and Aztec civilisations, to the indigenous peoples of the Amazon Basin. Today, countries like Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Guatemala are home to some of the finest heirloom and ceremonial-grade cacao in the world.

But there are some serious issues facing the South and Central American cacao industry that are threatening to destroy the ancient agricultural methods used to ensure ceremonial-grade cacao.

🌵 Land Grabbing and Corporate Takeovers

Powerful multinational corporations control the global market, dictating terms that leave small farmers vulnerable to economic instability while branding their chocolate as "ethical" through misleading sustainability claims.

Land grabbing and corporate takeovers are displacing smallholder and indigenous cacao farmers across Central and South America. Large agribusinesses and investors acquire land, often through legal loopholes, coercion, or government-backed deals. These acquisitions convert biodiverse farms into high-yield, industrialized cacao plantations.

This shift prioritises profit over sustainability, eroding traditional farming methods, and forcing local farmers into exploitative labour conditions, or out of the industry altogether.

Meanwhile, supply chain exploitation keeps cacao prices artificially low, with farmers receiving only a fraction of the final product’s value.

🌿 Cash Cropping and GMO vs Heirloom Bean Varieties

The push for higher yields has led to the widespread adoption of cash-cropping systems that prioritise productivity over sustainability.

Many large-scale cacao farms rely on hybrid or genetically modified (GMO) cacao varieties that are engineered for disease resistance and increased fruit. While these varieties can produce larger harvests, they often lack the depth of flavour and resilience found in native or heirloom cacao.

Heirloom cacao varieties, which have been cultivated for generations, also hold deep cultural and genetic significance. These beans are prized for their complex flavours and adaptability to local ecosystems, but they typically produce lower yields, making them less competitive in a market driven by volume and profit. As a result, many smallholder farmers face pressure to switch to high-yield, commercially viable strains, even at the cost of biodiversity, soil health, and traditional farming knowledge.

To break this cycle, sustainable solutions such as agroforestry, regenerative farming, and fairer pricing structures are essential. By ensuring farmers can earn a living income from their existing land while adopting climate-resilient practices, we can protect both the world’s forests and the future of cacao. Supporting heirloom cacao and ethical farming practices helps preserve not just biodiversity but also the cultural heritage and craftsmanship behind truly high-quality cacao.

🌳 Deforestation and Ecosystem Loss

Desperate to increase yields and secure their livelihoods, some cacao farmers are resorting to expanding into protected forests. This is often driven by economic necessity, when earnings from their existing land are too low due to volatile market prices, declining soil fertility, and the increasing impact of climate change. Without financial stability or access to sustainable farming resources, clearing new land becomes one of the few viable options for survival.

However, this expansion comes at a steep environmental cost. Deforestation for cacao cultivation leads to significant biodiversity loss, disrupting ecosystems that support pollinators, wildlife, and soil health. The removal of forest cover also reduces the land’s ability to sequester carbon, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating climate change. Moreover, as forests disappear, local weather patterns shift, further exacerbating droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and soil degradation, creating a vicious cycle that threatens both the environment and the long-term viability of cacao farming itself.

To break this cycle, sustainable solutions such as agroforestry, regenerative farming, and fairer pricing structures are essential. By ensuring farmers can earn a living income from their existing land while adopting climate-resilient practices, we can protect both the world’s forests and the future of cacao.

Conscious Choices: Make a Big Difference🍫

In the last couple of years, we have experienced first-hand how changing weather patterns and crop diseases delay harvests, and reduce availability. And we’ve had to be more agile in the way we plan our offerings and build long-term relationships with our farmers.

Every time you choose Ritual Cacao, you know that you are supporting small-scale farmers, value regenerative agriculture, and prioritise quality over profit. The power of your purchase is actively reshaping the future of this industry.

We are committed to quality, ethical practices, and sustainability that affect every part of the supply chain, from sourcing and pricing, to packaging and posting.

It’s also means we’re:

Paying higher prices to support farmers through difficult seasons
Diversifying sources to include cacao from different regions and microclimates
Working with cooperatives and local farming communities that focus on regenerative agriculture, soil health and reforestation.
Educating our customers on the importance of cacao for health and wellbeing, and why ethical sourcing costs more, but is absolutely worth it in the long term.

We don’t believe in exploiting a sacred plant, or the people who grow it. We believe in partnership, transparency, and resilience, and that means adjusting how we work in the face of a changing world.

With your purchases, together we can build a cacao industry that’s more ethical, more sustainable, and respects the cacao as a powerful Plant Medicine.

So thank you all for choosing Ritual Cacao, for caring, and for helping us preserve ancient cacao beans for future generations. 🙏🏽

Cacao, Climate & Conscious Choices 🌍✨