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Rising prices in the global cocoa market, climate change and supply risks have prompted food technology companies to develop alternative solutions to cocoa. Scientists and start-ups are working on new methods that could make it possible to produce chocolate without relying on cocoa trees.
These efforts encompass a range of technologies, from chocolate aromas created through fermentation using cocoa cells grown in the laboratory…
Global cocoa production stands at approximately 4.4 million tonnes per year. However, the majority of production is concentrated in West Africa. Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana account for more than half of global production. Furthermore, over 90% of cocoa production is carried out by small-scale farmers. This concentration leads to a fragile supply chain due to risks such as climate change, plant diseases and ageing cocoa trees.
How can cocoa be grown in a laboratory?
One of the most striking methods in alternative cocoa production is the cultivation of cocoa via cell culture. In this method, plant cells extracted from the cocoa bean are multiplied in a nutrient-rich liquid medium. The cells are grown in controlled bioreactors to produce cocoa biomass. This biomass is then fermented and roasted to produce products similar to traditional cocoa goods.
Cocoa-free chocolate alternatives…
Another approach involves producing chocolate-like taste and aroma without using cocoa. Some initiatives aim to replicate chocolate’s characteristic aromas using fermentation technologies. In these methods, various plant-based raw materials, such as barley or carob, are subjected to fermentation processes to achieve a chocolate-like flavour profile.
However, according to experts, these technologies are still in their early stages, and significant challenges remain regarding scaling up production and reducing costs. Furthermore, when the economic and social dimensions of cocoa production are taken into account, it is not expected that alternative solutions will completely replace traditional cocoa farming in the short term…
