The True Costs of Chocolate: Child Labor and Deforestation in Cocoa Farming

Jul 27 2024

Every year, millions of tons of chocolate are consumed worldwide, but few people know the true cost of this global passion. Côte d'Ivoire, the world's largest cocoa producer, supplies 40% of the world's cocoa, yet the journey from bean to bar is fraught with challenges. In this video, we take you deep into the cocoa fields, where the fruits of the cacao trees are harvested with great care and dedication by local farmers. However, beneath this veneer of dedication lies a troubling truth. Many workers, including a significant number of children, face grueling conditions, exposure to dangerous chemicals, and the burden of illegal labor practices. The environmental impact is equally concerning, with deforestation threatening protected forests in West Africa due to illegal cocoa plantations. Traceability and certification efforts aim to clean up the industry, but many obstacles remain in ensuring ethically sourced cocoa.