Harvard Professor Carla Martin on the Cocoa Crisis

A growing cocoa deficit.

Carla Martin | photo by harvard magazine

Why have chocolate prices surged since before Valentine's Day, hitting an all time high around Easter? Some analysts have predicted that cocoa may reach highs of $10,000 a ton in this historic period of inflation, growing in value at a rate faster than bitcoin.

 

Harvard Professor Carla Martin discusses the ongoing cocoa crisis affecting farmers, supply chains, and consumers, the historical and cultural trends underlying the production and sale of chocolate, and what the immediate commercial future of chocolate looks like. Martin is a Lecturer in the Department of African and African American Studies at Harvard University and is the Founder and Executive Director of the Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute (FCCI). 

As the global cocoa shortfall continues, prices will be passed onto consumers until farmers are able to regain full yields.

Read more about Harvard African and African American Studies (AAAS): 

Read more about the science, culture, and history of chocolate:

Read more articles by Olivia Farrar
Related topics

You might also like

How AI Is Reshaping Supply Chains

Harvard Kennedy School lecturer on using AI to strengthen supply chains

This Astronomer is Sounding a Warning on ‘Space Junk’

As debris accumulates in low Earth orbit, the danger of destructive collisions continues to rise.

Understanding AI Vulnerabilities

As artificial intelligence capabilities evolve, so too will the tactics used to exploit them. 

Most popular

Yale Chief Will Lead Harvard Police Department

Anthony Campbell will take up his new post in January.

Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences Faces a $350 Million Deficit

At a faculty meeting, Dean Hopi Hoekstra advocates for long-term, structural solutions.

Creepy Crawlies and Sticky Murder Weapons at Harvard

In the shadows of Singapore’s forests, an ancient predator lies in wait—the velvet worm.

Explore More From Current Issue

A diverse group of adults and children holding hands, standing on varying levels against a light blue background.

Why America’s Strategy For Reducing Racial Inequality Failed

Harvard professor Christina Cross debunks the myth of the two-parent Black family.