Researchers have located three new plant species, all relatives of Theobroma cacao, the tree that bears the cocoa beans. This finding would come from the western Amazon rainforest and might introduce a possibility for developing climate-resilient cacao trees and hence save one of the world’s favorite treats from the ravages of climate change.
A group of research experts from the University College Cork, the University of São Paulo, and the New York Botanical Garden identified the new species inside the section Herrania: Theobroma globosum, T. nervosum, and T. schultesii. “Our discovery highlights an area of special importance because it gives a taste of the enormous levels of biodiversity in which we still have so much to learn from in our planet,” said Dr. James Richardson of the School of BEES and the Environmental Research Institute at UCC.
“These new species were discovered based on studies of specimens in herbaria and illustrate the value of maintaining these natural history collections,” Richardson said. He added that the existence of undescribed species most closely related to Theobroma cacao, for the production of chocolate, underlines an enormous amount of work still needed to document the biodiversity of Earth.
The breakthrough comes at the right time when climatic changes are increasingly wreaking havoc in the chocolate industry. This volatility in crop yield and price, going forward, may change the moment new research makes cacao hardier vis-à -vis extreme weather incidences. Most cacao worldwide comes from West Africa, where the region has been incensed by volatile crop yields and prices—a recent tripling in the price of cacao because of prolonged droughts underlining the need for hardier varieties. Current market research has also shown that most of the cacao consumed worldwide will be sourced from West Africa.
The implications of this discovery could prove far greater than merely stabilizing chocolate production. However, it also adds an economic argument in favor of saving the Amazon rainforest. A new campaign by Natura, Forbes, and Africa Creative has quantified the $317 billion Amazon economy, proving that the standing forest is worth far more than the profit that will come from its destruction.
A research study published in the Kew Bulletin found that these new species could provide important genetic resources for the potential of breeding drought- or disease-resistant cacao trees. This might keep the production of cacao-based products, including chocolate, sustainable as the threats due to climate change increase.
The accidental discovery brings hope to chocolate lovers amidst the effect on the environment and society that food production is currently having around the world. It puts focus on making the right buying decisions, which would help with promoting sustainability in the industry.
It is with these new species that real hope now rests in securing a future including chocolate if the climate continues to be uncertain. These plants can ensure that the sweet delight goes on unabated for many generations.