The Story of Chocolate: Unwrapping the Bar
Summary
TLDRThe script highlights the bitter reality behind the chocolate industry, where cocoa farmers in West Africa face exploitation and poverty despite the high demand for chocolate. It discusses the challenges of cocoa farming, the impact of climate change, and the importance of Fairtrade certification in providing a minimum price and premium for farmers. The script emphasizes the need for consumers to support fair trade to ensure a living income for farmers, and the collective effort required to transform the industry for a sustainable future.
Takeaways
- 🍫 Chocolate is a globally popular treat, with the UK consuming an average of three bars per person per week.
- 🌍 The history of chocolate dates back over 2,000 years, and most cocoa is now grown in West Africa, particularly in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire.
- 🌱 Cocoa grows on trees in pods and requires a significant amount of labor and time to cultivate, including a five-year growth period and a fermentation process.
- 🌡️ Climate change and weather patterns pose challenges to cocoa farmers, increasing the risk of crop damage and disease.
- 💰 Many cocoa farmers are underpaid and live in poverty, earning less than one dollar a day, which is insufficient to cover basic needs.
- 📉 The price of cocoa has recently plummeted, exacerbating the financial struggles of cocoa farmers.
- 🛍️ Fair trade practices offer a minimum price and additional premium for cocoa farmers, providing a safety net and resources for community investments.
- 🏆 Fairtrade certification has led to increased production for some farmers and has empowered women in farming communities.
- 👩🌾 Women in West Africa often face barriers to land, credit, and leadership roles, but initiatives like the women's society at Khayat are working to empower them.
- 🌱 Diversification of crops is important for farmers to have a stable income, especially when cocoa prices are volatile.
- 🛒 Choosing fair trade chocolate is a consumer action that can support farmers and encourage retailers to offer fairer deals.
- 🌟 The ultimate goal is to ensure a living income for cocoa farmers, which is estimated to be $2.50 per person per day, to cover basic needs and reinvestment in their farms.
Q & A
How popular is chocolate in the UK, and what does this consumption imply about the cocoa industry?
-In the UK, chocolate is extremely popular, with an average consumption of about three bars per person per week. This high demand implies a significant reliance on the cocoa industry, which has a complex impact on the lives of cocoa farmers, many of whom face underpayment and exploitation.
What is the historical origin of chocolate, and where is most of the world's cocoa grown today?
-Chocolate's history dates back over 2,000 years to Mexico, but today, most of the world's cocoa is grown in West Africa, with Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire contributing 60% of the global supply.
How is cocoa produced, and what are the challenges faced by cocoa farmers?
-Cocoa is produced from trees that take five years to grow pods. The pods are cut down, and the beans inside are fermented and dried. Cocoa farmers face hard work and challenges such as weather dependency, diseases, and the impact of climate change, which can lead to crop damage or loss.
How does the fluctuation in cocoa prices affect the livelihood of cocoa farmers?
-Fluctuations in cocoa prices can have a disastrous effect on farmers' livelihoods. When prices plummet, farmers may not earn enough to provide basic necessities for their families, pushing them further into poverty.
What is the Fairtrade system, and how does it help cocoa farmers?
-The Fairtrade system provides a minimum price for cocoa that cannot drop below a certain level, acting as a safety net for farmers when market prices are low. Additionally, a Fairtrade premium is paid for every ton of cocoa sold, which farmers can invest in their community or business, such as schools, health centers, or infrastructure.
How does Fairtrade certification impact the production and income of cocoa farmers?
-Fairtrade certification not only provides a minimum price and premium but also access to training in good agricultural practices, which can increase production efficiency and, consequently, farmers' incomes.
What role do women play in the cocoa farming communities, and how does Fairtrade support them?
-Women in cocoa farming communities often have less access to resources and are underrepresented in leadership roles. Fairtrade initiatives aim to empower women by providing them with access to independent income through diversification projects and supporting their participation in cooperatives and community decision-making.
Why is diversification important for cocoa farming communities, and how does it benefit them?
-Diversification is crucial as it allows farmers to grow other crops, providing an independent income that is not solely reliant on fluctuating cocoa prices. This additional revenue can support families throughout the year, especially during off-harvest seasons.
What is the concept of a 'living income' for cocoa farmers, and why is it important?
-A living income refers to an amount that enables cocoa farmers to provide for their families' basic needs, including food, health, education, and a decent home. It is important because without a living income, farmers may not be able to sustain their livelihoods and may turn to other, more profitable crops.
What is the estimated living income for cocoa farmers in Cote d'Ivoire, and how does it compare to their current earnings?
-The estimated living income needed to cover basic needs in Cote d'Ivoire is $2.50 per day per person in the household, which is close to the price of a large bar of chocolate. However, most farmers currently earn far less than this amount.
What steps can consumers take to support a fairer deal for cocoa farmers?
-Consumers can support a fairer deal for cocoa farmers by choosing Fairtrade certified chocolate, which signals to retailers and the industry the demand for ethically sourced products. Additionally, advocating for living income initiatives and supporting companies that commit to fair trade practices can contribute to positive change in the cocoa industry.
Outlines
🍫 The Dark Side of Chocolate's Sweet Appeal
This paragraph delves into the chocolate industry's less sweet reality, highlighting the plight of cocoa farmers who are underpaid and exploited. It emphasizes the hard work involved in cocoa farming, the reliance on weather conditions, and the challenges posed by climate change. The script also touches on the economic disparity in the supply chain, where farmers see very little of the industry's value, leading to a struggle to meet basic human needs. The historical context of chocolate is briefly mentioned, with a focus on West Africa as the primary source of the world's cocoa. The paragraph concludes with a musical interlude that underscores the gravity of the situation.
🌱 Fair Trade as a Lifeline for Cocoa Farmers
The second paragraph discusses the impact of Fair Trade certification on cocoa farmers, providing a safety net through minimum pricing and additional premiums that allow for community investment and improvement. It showcases the story of a Fair Trade cooperative, illustrating how the premium has been used to advance children's education, improve infrastructure, and secure access to clean water. The narrative also addresses gender disparities in West Africa's agricultural sector, emphasizing the role of women in farming communities and the empowerment initiatives that aim to increase their participation and income. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for consumers to support Fair Trade to bring about meaningful change in the cocoa industry.
🛍️ Transforming the Cocoa Industry for Sustainable Livelihoods
The final paragraph focuses on the broader efforts required to ensure a living income for cocoa farmers, beyond just Fair Trade certification. It outlines the need for collaboration between traders, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers to create a sustainable cocoa sector. The script highlights the importance of measuring household income and the role of Fair Trade in advocating for farmers' rights. It concludes with a message of hope, urging consumers to choose Fair Trade products to support the transformation of the industry and make living incomes a reality for cocoa farmers, thus securing the future of cocoa farming.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Chocolate
💡Cocoa Farmers
💡Fair Trade
💡Cocoa
💡West Africa
💡Climate Change
💡Living Income
💡Cooperative
💡Fairtrade Premium
💡Sustainability
💡Cocoa Industry
Highlights
Chocolate is a popular treat with an average consumption of three bars per person per week in the UK.
The chocolate industry has a dark side with many cocoa farmers being underpaid and exploited.
Cocoa farmers struggle to earn enough for basic human rights such as food, education, and housing.
Chocolate's history dates back over 2,000 years, originating in Mexico and now predominantly grown in West Africa.
60% of the world's cocoa comes from Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire.
Cocoa grows on trees in pods, and the process from pod to dried bean is labor-intensive and weather-dependent.
Cocoa farmers face uncertainties due to climate change, affecting crop health and yields.
Cocoa farmers have little control over the price of their cocoa, which is set far away from their farms.
A typical cocoa farmer in Cote d'Ivoire lives on less than one dollar a day, insufficient for basic needs.
The plummeting price of cocoa in recent years has pushed many farmers further into poverty.
Fair trade offers a minimum price and additional premium to support farmers and their communities.
Fairtrade cooperatives enable farmers to invest in community projects like schools and health centers.
Women in West Africa often have less access to resources and are underrepresented in farming organizations.
Fairtrade certification and training have increased production and income for some farmers.
The women's society at Khayat has used the Fairtrade premium to diversify income sources.
A living income for cocoa farmers is estimated to be $2.50 a day per person in the household.
The chocolate industry needs to prioritize providing a living income to ensure sustainability and fair treatment of farmers.
Consumers can help by choosing fair trade chocolate and encouraging companies to offer fair prices to farmers.
Fairtrade is working with stakeholders to transform the chocolate industry and make living incomes a reality for cocoa farmers.
Transcripts
[Music]
chocolate we love it it's one of the
world's most popular treats in the UK
alone we each eat an average of around
three bars a week but you don't have to
look too far before you find the
chocolate industry itself is far from
sweet many farmers who grow the cocoa
for our treats are underpaid and
exploited that means they can't earn
enough for the basic human rights many
of us take for granted including food
education and housing so how can we stop
chocklit from leaving a bitter
aftertaste let's find out chocolates
history dates back well over 2,000 years
to Mexico but most is now grown in West
Africa 60% of the world's cocoa comes
from Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire the main
ingredient of chocolate cocoa grows on
trees in pods it takes a cocoa tree five
years to grow pods which are cut down
with sharp knives and cracked open each
pod has 20 to 6 cc's covered in a white
pulp the pulp is laid under banana
leaves or in wooden crates and turned
occasionally over five to seven days the
POC ferments to leave sticky cocoa beans
which are laid out in the Sun to dry
growing cocoa is hard work and relies
heavily on the weather with changing
weather patterns cocoa farmers face more
uncertainty as crops are more at risk of
rain damage or disease a bra TA has been
farming cocoa for over 25 years and
knows how difficult it can be diseases
are more frequent because of climate
change and the excessive heat the trees
often die from the cocoa farm the cocoa
beans are sold to traders who export
them most of these go to Europe where
they are made into
liquid cocoa cocoa butter and cocoa
powder mixed with milk or soy and made
into chocolate cocoa is big business in
the UK alone the chocolate industry is
worth 4 billion pounds a year but cocoa
farmers are at the very end of the
supply chain and see very little of
Coco's value they have little control
over how much they sell their cocoa for
with prices set far away a typical cocoa
farmer in Cote d'Ivoire lives on less
than one dollar a day that's around 80 P
not enough to provide for the basics for
a family
[Music]
to make matters worse in the past few
years the price of cocoa has plummeted
pushing many cocoa farmers further into
poverty the cocoa prices are disastrous
when a farmer gets up in the morning
he's always worried how will he be able
to feed and care for his family
how can he send his children to school
fair trade has helped for fair trade
cocoa farmers like a bra ta when the
price of cocoa drops it can't drop below
the Fairtrade minimum price which acts
as a safety net the bill Muncey human
the market price rules we ultimately use
the Fairtrade minimum price this
fellow's the producer to keep farming
and even to improve the production on
top of this for every ton of cocoa sold
on Fairtrade terms the farmer
organization the co-operative receives
an additional sum the Fairtrade premium
to invest in their business and their
community as they see fit
this might mean investing money in a
school health center or clean drinking
water this is Rosie she's a farmer at a
Fairtrade certified cocoa cooperative
called Chi Act what effect would have
seen that Fairtrade has helped us a lot
in cocoa farming the Fairtrade premium
has enabled us to do many things it has
enabled us to advance our children's
education and also we use the Fairtrade
premium to build for the future using
Fairtrade premium kayat have built
nursery schools and rebuilt damaged
school buildings so that young children
can attend school safely and their
mothers can go to work
they have installed a water pump for
access to clean water and have invested
in large warehouses and a number of
trucks so that they can store and
transport their cocoa beans efficiently
working together in a cooperative also
means farmers can share knowledge and
access training certificates on a weekly
informational Aborn platicas since
getting Fairtrade certification and
training in good agricultural practices
I can see that it has greatly increased
my production in 2017 I had one tonne
and in 2018 I had 1.5 tons so I can see
that the training from Fairtrade enabled
me to increase the income from my farm
Rosine is also the secretary of the
women's society at Khayat women in West
Africa often have less access than men
to land and credit and are often
underrepresented in farmers
organizations public meetings and
leadership roles in communities who have
also Bruce
at the moment there are lots of women
who don't realize that they have a voice
don't feel empowered or know that they
can be at the forefront of somethings
there are lots of women who have not
understood this yet years of studies
have shown that when women have access
to their own independent income the rate
of development for the whole community
increases and Murray works to empower
cocoa farmers across West Africa the
women wake up early in the morning
before the whole family before everybody
around 4:00 4:30 they are weak then cook
food for the whole family send children
to school take their machete in the
staff to the phone when work hard on the
phone come in the house cook dinner for
the whole family and they sleep they are
the last person to go on bed wake up
early in the morning before everybody
and sleep after everybody this is the
reason why they deserve also more
attention because they know more than
the rest at Khayat Rosine works with 400
other women in the women's society and
they have invested Fairtrade premium in
diversification projects such as growing
other crops so that they can earn an
independent income that doesn't rely on
fluctuating cocoa prices they're also
the affair at the base if you got value
Manuel diversification is important
having manioc bananas and chillies in
the field and brings us a lot of revenue
this benefits the children because
outside of the kernel harvesting season
and the income isn't there it's the
women who having sold contribute to the
family income to pay for school fees the
benefits of Fairtrade are evident from
training support to the minimum price to
the Fairtrade premium thanks to
consumers choosing fair trade chocolate
many cocoa farmers have been able to
make a real difference in their
communities but the sad truth is that
certification alone is not enough to
transform a global industry on this
scale
not all Fairtrade certified farmers are
able to sell all of their crop on
Fairtrade terms
you
[Music]
when companies agree to pay on fair
trade terms they are already taking an
important step towards solving the
problem of living income but communities
in West Africa need to sell much more of
their cocoa at higher prices for things
to change properly we can help to change
this by choosing fair trade and showing
retailers that farmers deserve a fairer
deal but we need to go even further we
need to build on the achievements of
Fairtrade certification and encourage
others to do more to change the cocoa
industry farmers deserve the basic human
right of a living income enough to cover
a decent standard of living for me the
living income is this amount that will
help the producer to be able to take
care of his family and reinvest and the
farm for a future in Cote d'Ivoire a
living income that will cover food
health education a decent home and safe
water is estimated to be $2 50 a day for
each person in the household just under
2 pounds this would be the price of a
large bar of chocolate and yet most
farmers get far less than this so if the
situation does not change I think people
will stop cocoa farming because the
incomes are too low people are going to
grow other crops such as palm oil I do
not want to be mean or alarmist but we
have to acknowledge that young people do
not want to be cocoa farmers anymore
because it is not profitable
Fairtrade is working towards a living
income for farmers over the next few
years fair trading those people working
really hard with chocolate browns with
retailers and with government and
worrying see consensus that a living
income for cocoa farmers in their
families is what everybody wants to
achieve but this is going to be hard and
what only going to be able to do it with
people who love to eat chocolate in the
UK joining in as well
there are traders chocolate
manufacturers and retailers in the chain
who all take a share of the price paid
for a finished product most recognize
that farmers incomes are too low for
cocoa to be sustainable the way the
industry currently works and are keen to
address this there's been lots of
initiatives in the past to try and raise
productivity if we once moved to a truly
sustainable cocoa sector then we have to
be putting on measuring household income
of cocoa farmers at the heart of
projects as exactly what Fairtrade doing
when you choose fair trade you are
showing retailers that you want the
farmers at the other end of the supply
chain to get a living income we will be
working hard to transform the chocolate
industry to make this happen together
let's make living incomes a reality for
cocoa farmers
[Music]
you
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