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Context and background: The cocoa landscape in Ghana is undergoing evolving trends in land access for cocoa production. While evolving strategies for gaining access to land within different land use settings for agriculture, settlement and industrial plantations are well documented, little is known about drivers of the evolving trends of land access within cocoa landscapes in Ghana and their impacts on actors especially migrants and youth within that landscape. Goal and Objectives: The paper seeks to contribute to understanding of the evolving trends in land access in the Western North Region of Ghana. The objective is to explore the underlying drivers influencing changes in access to land in Western North and their impacts on actors in the cocoa landscape. Methodology: Primary data for this qualitative study was collected through 16 focus group discussions, 8 key informant interviews with officials of state institutions including Ghana Cocoa Board and landowners and one-on-one interview with 293 cocoa farmers on the underlying drivers influencing the evolving trends in land access within the cocoa landscapes and their implications on actors. Results: We found that, the promotion of cocoa production due to value placed on cocoa; frontier expansion and social and family networks leading to influx of migrants into cocoa landscapes have presented continuous demand for lands suitable for cocoa cultivation within the cocoa - forest landscape of Ghana. This context coupled with enlightenment of landowners on laws governing land ownership and tenure, have contributed to the redefinition of strategies employed by natives and migrants for gaining and maintaining cocoa land access; a situation that results in enhanced access to land among some actors, and exclusion of others. The unavailability of unencumbered family lands leading to fragmentation of farm lands into small landholdings for members of landowning families especially the youth results in low productivity with associated implications for livelihoods and cocoa farming investment decision making. Some farmers resort to unapproved lands including protected forests for cultivation of cocoa. With the commencement of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in December 2024, such deforestation-led cocoa products will become unacceptable on the European market. Invariably, issues of cocoa land access hold critical implications for livelihoods, sustainability of cocoa production, economic development and cocoa-led deforestation with its associated trade regulations especially for a major producer country like Ghana. We conclude that, land access for cocoa farming is increasingly assuming a market model, where customary access mechanisms have given way to others that favour the highest bidder, and farmers who are able to respond to land owners' increasing institutionalization of land ownership security strategies. Our recommendation is that, Government should refrain from the over emphasis of cocoa production and rather promote agricultural diversification to reduce the over concentration on cocoa cultivation and its implication on land scarcity and deforestation. Additionally, there should be education on the implication of commodity-led deforestation especially in the context of the new European Union Deforestation Regulation and ultimately on climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry is promoted as a practice at the crossroads of sustainability and productivity objectives; however, many agroforestry programmes have had mixed effects due to a lack of understanding of the compatibility of the species supplied to farmers with cocoa and a failure to take account of their knowledge in designing the programmes. This paper, therefore, examines the effects of socio-economic and agroforestry factors on cocoa yields in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. The data used come from surveys of 150 farmers in three areas of the country: Bonon, Soubré and Biankouma. The choice of these areas was based on an east–west gradient, reflecting the evolution of the cocoa loop. The Bayesian Information Criterion method and multiple linear regression were applied to identify the species and their relationship with yield. The results showed that certain species, such as Citrus sp., Cordia senegalensis, Isoberlinia doka, Morinda lucida, Morus mesozygia and Raphia hookeri increased in yield; on the other hand, Anthonotha manii was found to reduce in yield. Finally, labour and insecticides contributed to yield increases. The statistical analysis can be supplemented with agronomic and ecological analyses to improve species management on cocoa farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background While evolving strategies for gaining access to land within different land use settings for agriculture, settlement and industrial plantations are well documented, little is known about drivers of the evolving trends of land access within cocoa landscapes in Ghana and their impacts on actors especially migrants and youth within that landscape. Goal and Objectives: The paper seeks to contribute to understanding of the evolving trends in land access in the Western North Region of Ghana. The objective is to explore the underlying drivers influencing the changes in access to land in Western North and their impacts on actors in the cocoa landscape. Methodology: Primary data for this qualitative study was collected through 16 focus group discussions, 8 key informant interviews with officials of state institutions including Ghana Cocoa Board and landowners and one-on-one interview with 293 cocoa farmers on the underlying drivers influencing the evolving trends in land access within the cocoa landscapes and their implications on actors. Results: We found that the promotion of cocoa production due to value placed on cocoa; frontier expansion; and social and family networks leading to influx of migrants into cocoa landscapes have presented continuous demand for lands suitable for cocoa cultivation within the cocoa - forest landscape of Ghana. This context coupled with enlightenment of landowners on laws governing land ownership and tenure, have contributed to the redefinition of strategies employed by natives and migrants for gaining and maintaining cocoa land access; a situation that results in enhanced access to land among some actors, and exclusion of others. With the commencement of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in December 2024, such deforestation-led cocoa products will become unacceptable on the European market. Invariably, issues of cocoa land access hold critical implications for livelihoods, sustainability of cocoa production, economic development and cocoa-led deforestation with its associated trade regulations especially for a major producer country like Ghana. We conclude that, land access for cocoa farming is increasingly assuming a market model, where customary access mechanisms have given way to others that favour the highest bidder, and farmers who are able to respond to land owners' increasing institutionalization of land ownership security strategies. Our recommendation is that, Government should refrain from the over emphasis of cocoa production and rather promote agricultural diversification to reduce the over concentration on cocoa cultivation and its implication on land scarcity and deforestation. Additionally, there should be education on the implication of commodity-led deforestation especially in the context of the new European Union Deforestation Regulation and ultimately on climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the legacy of war on environmental policy, contributing to recent literature on the linkages between armed violence, conservation, rural livelihoods and global value chains. It argues that environmental norms reshape agricultural practices, but also the means by which people claim control over land and labour. Using the case of cocoa in Côte d'Ivoire, this paper examines the impact of 'zero‐deforestation' policies on the country's last agricultural frontier: its western forestlands, where migration and deforestation have driven the development of the cocoa economy for years. The region is now feeling the effects of global trade policies such as the European Deforestation‐Free Regulation (EUDR), competition for the last remaining forests and social fault lines inherited from the war. This article traces the origins of the zero‐deforestation policy, its national and local impact and its implications for social struggles over the control of land and labour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the effect of shade management practices on cocoa seedling mortality. It investigates farmer awareness and adoption of the recommended shade practices and its influence on reducing cocoa seedling mortality. The constraints facing cocoa farmers in adopting the recommended shade management practices were also examined. Using data collected from 180 smallholder cocoa farmers, the ordered logit and poisson regression models were employed. The results indicate that majority of the farmers were highly aware of the recommended shade management practices, however, relatively moderate number of the farmers have adopted the recommended shade management practices. Our results further revealed that educational level, extension service, source of a shade tree, the type of shade practice, spraying insecticide, and weeding had a significant effect on reducing seedling mortality. Furthermore, the prevalence of diseases and pest infestation was identified as the major constraint faced by farmers in shade management. We, therefore, recommend that Cocobod should intensify extension services to increase the adoption of shade management practices through trainings to offset the high mortality in unshaded cocoa farms and sustain the survival of the cocoa seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperactivation of blood platelets, one of the causes of heart attack, and other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), is influenced by various dietary components, including phenolic compounds from vegetables, fruits, teas, wines, cocoa and its products, including chocolate. The present paper sheds new light on the effect of cocoa and its products, especially dark chocolate, on the number and function of blood platelets, and the anti-platelet activity of their constituent phenolic compounds. A review was performed of papers identified in various electronic databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar, with the aim of determining whether their anti-platelet activity may serve as part of a sweet strategy in countering CVDs. Various studies demonstrate that cocoa consumption, especially in the form of dark chocolate, with a high flavanol concentration, has anti-platelet activity and may play a significant role in cardioprotection; they also note that cocoa consumption may be a good strategy in diminishing cardiovascular risk, including hyperactivation of blood platelets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem approach to control insect and disease pests to minimize the use of pesticides. Cross River State was purposively selected based on training done by International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) through Sustainable Tree Crop Programme. The study explored the determinants of adoption behaviour. A systematic sampling technique was used to select a total of 108 IPM trained respondents. Structured questionnaire was used to gather information on farmers'socio-economic factors affecting IPM Adoption, determine the IPM adoption behaviour of farmers and ascertain the constraints experienced from IPM adoption. Male respondents were 81.5% while the females were 18.5%. Majority (65.1%), were between the age range of 41 and 60 years which is an indication that they were still in their prime age. Majority (94.4%), of the respondents were educated and majority (97.2%) of the farmers own small farms between 1 and 5 ha. Most of the respondents rated inaccessibility to market information as the highest constraint affecting IPM adoption with a Weighted Mean Score of 0.8. Majority (79.6%) had high level of intensity of IPM adoption while most of the respondents rated both pest monitoring and planting resistant varieties as the highest rate of adoption with a score of 2.9. A significant relationship exists between sex (X² =42.815, p<0.05), age (X² =65.148, p<0.05), education (X² = 40.426, p<0.05), years of experience (X² =110.333, p<0.05), and adoption behaviour. The contingency coefficient (CC) shows very strong relationship of sex 0.5328, age 0.6134, marital status 0.7758, education 0.5218 and years of experience 0.7108 with adoption behaviour. Farmers need to be encouraged in adopting IPM through marketing information that would reduce extortion of the farmers by local buying agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of cocoa agroforestry is widely discussed in debates on sustainability transition in cocoa, especially in the context of ending hunger and poverty among cocoa farmers. Whereas this has led to multiple cocoa agroforestry investments by NGOs, governments, and cocoa and chocolate companies in West and Central Africa, a notable gap exists in the literature on how these interventions respond to the needs of cocoa farmers who are typically framed as the primary target of equity in cocoa sustainability discussions. This paper contributes to bridging this gap by analyzing equity in implementing various cocoa agroforestry projects by different actors in Ghana's Juabeso-Bia Landscape (JBL). I find that the ongoing cocoa agroforestry initiatives may be broadly characterized as renovative or additive in terms of how they (re)shape the various components on cocoa farms. Yet, they are all designed to primarily enhance cocoa productivity even when seasonal food insecurity is one of the most pressing challenges among cocoa farmers in the JBL. The persistent neglect of food in cocoa production risks leaving poverty and hunger in cocoa households unaddressed. Additionally, it increases cocoa households' predisposition to forest conversion, making current forms of cocoa agroforestry an indirect driver of deforestation in the landscape. To transform the current situation, policymakers and scholars must reflexively integrate household food security in designing cocoa agroforestry, prioritizing farmers' involvement in dynamic agroforestry technologies that contribute directly to local food access over time. This contrasts the current policy and practice of cocoa agroforestry, focused on maintaining a prescribed number of shade trees on new or existing cocoa farms but highly likely to engender significantly greater inequity in the cocoa sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional approaches for assessing supply chain vulnerability do not capture endogenous disruptions emanating from chain actors' decisions that might increase value chain vulnerability. These approaches adopt a reactive analytical explanation of vulnerability, rather than one that considers issues of feedback effects. To address this issue, this paper adopts a system dynamics modelling approach to identify the precursors of vulnerabilities in Ghana's cocoa value chain. The paper assesses the vulnerability levels of the cocoa value chain by adjusting the baseline values of several key parameters that can be influenced by chain actors. Results of the sensitivity analyses indicate that the precursors of vulnerability situated upstream of the cocoa value chain have varying impacts on chain vulnerability, but the same magnitude of effect on the vulnerability levels of chain actors. However, precursors of vulnerability that are situated midstream of the cocoa value chain have an unequal magnitude of effect on the vulnerability levels of chain actors. Results suggest that policies governing cocoa trading can become countervailing factors that obstruct the government's call for upgrading along the cocoa value chain. The system dynamics model presented here enables a proactive assessment of vulnerability which can facilitate collaborative planning among stakeholders in the value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to assess how cocoa supply chain companies disclose sustainable development goals (SDGs) information in their sustainability reports. This assessment highlights strategic aspects of sustainable supply chain management and reveals leveraging sustainability points in the cocoa industry. Design/methodology/approach: The two-step qualitative approach relies on text-mining company reports and subsequent content analysis that identifies the topics disclosed and relates them to SDG targets. Findings: This study distinguishes 18 SDG targets connected to cocoa traders and 30 SDG targets to chocolate manufacturers. The following topics represent the main nexuses of connections: decent labour promotion and gender equity (social), empowering local communities and supply chain monitoring (economic) and agroforestry and climate action (environmental). Practical implications: By highlighting the interconnections between the SDGs targeted by companies in the cocoa supply chain, this paper sheds light on the strategic SDGs for this industry and their relationships, which can help to improve sustainability disclosure and transparency. One interesting input for companies is the improvement of climate crisis prevention, focusing on non-renewable sources minimisation, carbon footprint and clear indicators of ecologic materiality. Social implications: This study contributes to policymakers to enhance governance and accountability of global supply chains that are submitted to different regulation regimes. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, no previous study has framed the cocoa industry from a broader SDG perspective. The interconnections identified reveal the key goals of the cocoa supply chain and point to strategic sustainability choices for companies in an important global industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper relies on literature review and primary data collected through in-depth interviews with 21 respondents to examine the political economy dynamics of the cocoa value chain in Ghana. The historical analysis, which was based on the political settlements framework, has shown that the policies implemented in the cocoa sector went through four periods. The colonial era was characterised by a fairly corporate governance system and struggle between European traders and farmer cooperatives for monopoly over internal marketing of cocoa. This was followed by the early post-independence era (1957–1980), which was characterised by neopatrimonialism and over-taxation of cocoa farmers. The third phase (1980–2000) witnessed economic reforms and liberalisation. The fourth phase (2000 to present) saw increased public–private partnerships aimed at empowering women and promoting environmentally friendly farming activities. The paper concludes that the policies in the cocoa sector have, historically, created more benefits (rents) to political elite and their crony capitalists. Given that rent-seeking behaviour is a threat to the sustainability of the cocoa sector, the paper urges international development partners and civil society groups to demand greater accountability and transparency from the political elite and state institutions in the cocoa sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chocolate is a popular food for its unique flavor and taste, rich nutritional value, and the psychological values brought to people. The raw material production of chocolate, product manufacturing, sales and transportation have different degrees of environmental impact. This review explores the environmental hot spots in the life cycle of chocolate and puts forward corresponding suggestions for the improvement. By applying a systematic review method, this paper collected 25 articles on life cycle assessment (LCA) of the environmental impact of the chocolate industry. It is found that the life cycle of chocolate has the highest environmental impact in the raw material production and chocolate manufacturing stages (accounting for 77–97% of total impacts), among which milk powder, sugar and cocoa derivatives are the important contributors to significant environmental burden. Dark chocolate generates the lowest carbon emissions (1.67 kg CO2eq/kg product) among existing chocolate categories, while the chocolate confectionery products release the highest carbon emissions (6.76 kg CO2eq/kg product) among chocolate-containing products. Improvement measures are proposed for reducing environmental impacts and for selecting environmentally friendly product formulae. This study can provide benchmarking for the chocolate industry and improves the understanding of life cycle environmental impacts of chocolate products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes new estimates of child labor use in Côte d'Ivoire's cocoa farms that are certified free of child labor. The study relies on list experiments (LE) to overcome social desirability bias associated with measuring sensitive issues, implemented on a sample of 4,458 Ivorian cocoa farmers. Findings show that 24 percent of them were helped by at least one child under 16 for harvesting and breaking the cocoa pods during the past 12 months, 21 percent for preparing their farm, and 25 percent employed and paid at least one child to perform any task on their cocoa farm. These results are twice as high as those declared by farmers when directly questioning them about their child labor use. This study provides evidence that the LE method, while more cognitively demanding than the direct questioning method, can be successfully understood by populations with low levels of education. Findings further show that, in this setting, the LE estimates are robust to specific LE design changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of emerging international trade regulations on deforestation-free commodities, the drivers of households' deforestation in conservation landscapes are of interest. The role of households' livelihood strategies including cocoa production, and the effects of human-elephant conflict are investigated. Using a unique dataset from a survey of 1035 households in the Tridom landscape in the Congo basin, the spatial autoregressive model shows that: (1) Households imitate the deforestation decisions of their neighbors; (2) A marginally higher income from cocoa production-based livelihood portfolios is associated with six to seven times higher deforestation compared to other livelihood strategies with a significant spillover effect on neighboring households' deforestation. The increase in income, mainly from cocoa production-based livelihoods in open-access systems can have a negative effect on forests. Households with a higher share of auto-consumption are associated with lower deforestation. If economic development brings better market access and lower auto-consumption shares, this is likely to positively influence deforestation. Without proper land use planning/zoning associated with incentives, promoting sustainable agriculture, such as complex cocoa agroforestry systems, may lead to forest degradation and deforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to examine the impact of farming systems on flora diversity in the Atwima Mponua District of Ghana's Ashanti region. It emphasized the importance of understanding the diversity and functional life forms of flora species to promote those with high biodiversity value but low competitive potential. The study randomly selected 32 cocoa farms, with 16 from each farming system. For each cocoa farm, a sample plot measuring 25 m by 25 m was set out, from which 5 m by 5 m subplots were drawn to evaluate the diversity of plant species. For each farm, a list of the species composition was created after the flora was identified. The distribution of species and the abundance of living forms were shown, and the Jaccard index of similarity was computed to compare the species between the two agricultural systems. The differences in flora variety between the two cocoa growing methods were calculated using the Shannon and Simpson diversity indices, and the Mann–Whitney U test was employed to determine their significance. The study revealed notable findings regarding the comparison between organic and conventional cocoa farms in terms of flora diversity. Firstly, it was observed that the abundance of life forms in organic farms exceeded that of conventional farms. In terms of species richness and evenness, the Shannon index indicates that organic farms exhibited a slightly greater diversity of species. Species dominance was statistically significant in organic farms, indicating a more balanced distribution of species. Based on these findings, the study concludes that organic farming holds the potential for enhancing flora diversity in cocoa farms. This highlights the importance of promoting and encouraging the adoption of organic farming practices to support and preserve biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Increased cocoa cultivation (Theobroma cacao) has led to the conversion of over 6 million hectares of rainforest to cocoa farmlands in West Africa. Globally, pollinator decline has been driven by land use changes. Though land use change through cocoa expansion may affect insect pollinators and, by extension, pollination services, this has rarely been assessed. Objectives: Our study examined the relationships between the proportion of natural forest in the landscape (reduced primarily due to cocoa expansion) and flower-visiting insect abundance, and bee abundance, richness, diversity and community composition. The effect of pan trap type (aerial or ground) was also tested. Methods: Eighteen sites were selected along a gradient of an increasing proportion of natural forests in the surrounding landscape (from 9 to 100%). Ground and aerial pan traps were deployed in each site to sample flower-visiting insects. Two sampling sessions were conducted; during the rainy season in 2021 and during the dry season in 2022. Results: The abundances of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Hemiptera increased with increasing proportion of natural forests in the landscape, while Diptera decreased. Natural forest and trap type did not significantly influence bee abundance, species richness, and Shannon diversity. However, bee community composition differed along the forest gradient, indicating that forests and cocoa farms harbour different bee communities. Ground pan traps captured more insects (61% of 19,927 flower-visiting insects) than aerial pan traps, which was driven by the Diptera as the abundances of the other orders were not significantly related to trap type. Conclusions: Preserving natural forest in cocoa-growing landscapes is important to sustain the coexistence of diverse flower-visiting insect communities owing to their differential responses to the proportions of natural forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies several governance factors that enable economic upgrading and the link between economic and social upgrading /downgrading of smallholders and Abusa sharecroppers in Ghana's cocoa value chain (GCVC). The findings are based on qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with various actors in GCVC. Our findings suggest two types of economic upgrading: process and product upgrading, achieved by smallholder producers and Abusa Sharecroppers in GCVC. While process upgrading is enabled by governance factors such as price stabilization and controlling opportunistic behavior, transparency in the sale of certified beans and premium management is key for product upgrading. Regarding the link between economic and social upgrading, we reveal that process upgrading leads to the same outcome of social upgrading and downgrading for smallholders and Abusa sharecroppers due to governance factors such as production and purchasing policies and lack of resources and capabilities. However, product upgrading links to social upgrading and downgrading for smallholders and Abusa sharecroppers respectively owing to governance factors such as controlling resources and bargaining power. We provide insights into key actors and their interests, drivers of change and effects of incentives that play crucial roles in shaping governance factors that influence economic and social upgrading of smallholders and Abusa sharecroppers in GCVC. In our conclusion, we identify how regulations, institutional support and conflicts of interest are key for enabling upgrading of developing countries' agricultural value chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological role of insects in cocoa agroforestry systems is a key component of biodiversity that generally underlines what insects do in cocoa agroforestry systems. Although insects are often under-appreciated and viewed by many cocoa farmers as a nuisance and pests, they provide a diversity of ecosystem services in cocoa agroforestry systems. Farm management practices affect the role and function of these insects, and consequently the ecosystem services and disservices they provide. This paper reviews the importance of insects in cocoa agroforestry systems and examines five major ecosystem service that insects provide. It also highlights farm management practices that affect ecosystem services and disservices provided by insects in cocoa agroforestry systems. The paper further summarizes some of the major and minor insect pest species that can be found in cocoa agroforestry systems, the damages they cause, as well as their management strategies. The conclusion provides insight on how to conserve valuable ecosystem services provided by insects in cocoa agroforestry systems, suggests innovative farm management practices to reduce disservices provided by some insect pest species, and offers recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, gut microbiome has evolved as a focal point of interest with growing recognition that a well-balanced gut microbiota is highly relevant to an individual's health status. The present review provides a mechanistic insight on the effects of cocoa chemicals on the gut microbiome and further reveals in silico biomarkers, taxonomic and functional features that distinguish gut microbiome of cocoa consumers and controls by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing data. The polyphenols in cocoa can change the gut microbiota either by inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the gut such as Clostridium perfringens or by increasing the growth of beneficial microbiota in the gut such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. This paper demonstrates the holistic effect of gut microbiota on cocoa chemicals and how it impacts human health. We present herein the first comprehensive review and analysis of how raw and roasted cocoa and its products can specifically influence gut homeostasis, and likewise, how microbiota metabolizes cocoa chemicals. In addition to that, our 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis revealed that the flavone and flavonols metabolism, aminobenzoate degradation and fatty acid elongation pathways represent the three most important signatures of microbial functions associated with cocoa consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Fitopatologi Indonesia is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cocoa prices are predicted to rise continually, as demand remains high and there are supply issues caused by crop yield fluctuations. This study aimed to develop a sustainable plant-based sweet spread using functional plant-based ingredients, chickpeas and carob, as a cocoa and sugar alternative. Recipe optimisation resulted in the production of a control sample made using cocoa and three experimental samples containing varying proportions of carob (50%, 75%, and 100%). The samples were analysed for their physicochemical characteristics (water activity, pH, colour, and texture) and proximate composition (moisture, ash, carbohydrate, sugars, starch, protein, fat, and energy). Using carob as a cocoa substitute significantly decreased the pH, firmness and stickiness, fat and energy contents. On the other hand, increasing the percentage of carob led to a substantially higher sugar content in the sweet spreads. The results show the possibility of developing an innovative sustainable plant-based chocolate-flavoured spread with favourable physicochemical characteristics and nutritional profiles using carob powder and syrup as a cocoa and sugar replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present a novel, combined cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) method for imaging of chocolate confectionery product microstructures of several millimeters down to about 100 nm. The SEM part of the method is based on cryo-fixation, cryo-polishing, and scanning electron microscopy, at low vacuum and low temperature using the backscattered electron signal. Starting with cryo-fixation of the chocolate sample in a desired state (cooled, ambient, or melted), the sample is cryo-planed in a cryo-ultramicrotome. Once a polished cut is obtained, the sample is analyzed using a cryo-SEM technique, with the unusual combination of low temperature and low vacuum settings, without heavy metal coating. Imaging is done based on material density contrast. Elemental composition of particles is recorded by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The combination of imaging contrast and EDS allows identification and measurement of the four main constituents of chocolate (cocoa solids, fat, sugar, and milk solids). Finally, the same cryo-polished sample sections of solid chocolate products are analyzed using a CLSM imaging technique to reveal complementary microstructural details. An obvious application of the method could be the visualization and quantitative analysis of the size, shape, and composition of chocolate confectionery products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthropods are crucial for sustaining global cacao cultivation, contributing to diverse ecological functions within the cacao agroecosystem. Despite their importance, there's a lack of comprehensive documentation on factors influencing arthropod presence, ecosystem services, impact, management, and conservation across cacao cultivation systems. To bridge this gap, our study aimed to consolidate existing knowledge by systematically mapping global scientific articles on arthropods associated with cacao cultivation. Using advanced text mining and structural topic modeling, we identified eight thematic categories in 552 articles, with 69.6% published between 2000 and 2023. Geographically, studies were concentrated in America (38.2%), Africa (34.6%), and Asia (20.8%). Publications showed a surge across most topics, providing updated insights into their distribution. Research in America focused on beetles, parasitoid hymenopterans, ants, pollinating dipterans, and arachnids. Conversely, substantial publications addressed pest arthropods, including hemipterans in Africa, the Cocoa Pod Borer in Asia, and other pests in America and Africa. Through our systematic analysis, we uncovered key topics shedding light on arthropod biology and ecological interactions, highlighting the importance of agroforestry systems for conserving diversity and promoting ecosystem services like pollination and biological control. The study outlines research trends and gaps within each topic, serving as a valuable resource for professionals and policymakers, facilitating further investigations into arthropods in the cacao agroecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocoa is a natural resource that plays a very important role globally, being one of the most produced and traded commodities. As a labour-intensive product and considering that its cultivation involves about 50 million people globally, it seems significant to explore its social sustainability. In light of this, this research aimed to map social risks within the cocoa supply chain from a life cycle perspective. Therefore, the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) was used, following the PSILCA database, considering the two most influential countries in its production, i.e., Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. The results showed that there could be a very high risk that more than half of the cocoa globally is produced through child labour and with wages too low to guarantee workers a decent living, returning incomes of $30–38/month. Forced labour is much less frequent than child labour, while cocoa from Ghana may induce a high risk of improper work, considering the 30.2 h per week worked by farmers. This is mainly due to the low association power of 10–16%, which reveals a high risk that workers may not organise themselves into trade unions. Finally, at 23–25%, there is also a very high risk of discrimination due to the high presence of migrant labour. Therefore, the S-LCA results showed that the cocoa industry is still characterised by socially unsustainable sourcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad de Antioquia is the property of Universidad de Antioquia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study examined the impact of agricultural cooperatives on poverty depth of cocoa farmers' poverty levels in Southwestern Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 362 cocoa farmers in the study area. The results of a two-step control function quasi-maximum likelihood revealed that age, household size, farm size, and farming experience positively influenced the poverty depth while cooperative membership negatively influenced the depth of poverty among cocoa farmers. This study concludes that cooperative organizations have the potential to reduce poverty effectively, provided their values and principles are respected. Hence, an advocate for continued policy incentives targeted at encouraging farmers to form as well as participate in agricultural cooperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of O Social em Questão is the property of Faculdades Catolicas - Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Pain is a significant issue for 40-50% of hospital patients, with 10-50% of acute pain cases potentially progressing to chronic pain. Pain-associated inflammation often involves the release of mediators, including Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α). Cocoa beans contain polyphenols, catechins, anthocyanidins, and proanthocyanidins, compounds believed to possess analgesic properties. This study aims to assess cocoa's potential as an oral preemptive analgesic agent in an acute pain mouse model, with an emphasis on its impact on inflammation through TNF-α levels. Methods: This true experimental study involved 24 male white mice split into four groups: a control group (K0) receiving a placebo, a treatment group receiving 15 mg/kg BW oral paracetamol (Kpct), a treatment group receiving 0.5 mg/g BW cocoa (K1), and a treatment group receiving 1 mg/g BW cocoa (K2). Pain response was measured using TNF-α levels and the von Frey test. The Kruskal-Wallis test and One-Way ANOVA were employed for statistical analysis. Results: Cocoa at doses of 0.5 mg/g BW and 1 mg/g BW substantially reduced TNF-α levels (75.82 ± 7.77 and 70.79 ± 11.50, respectively) compared to the control and paracetamol groups (98.22 ± 14.74 and 92.81 ± 2.64). On the first day, compared to the control group's 1.82 ± 0.78 von Frey values, the cocoa-treated groups' values (6.20 ± 2.72 and 7.63 ± 4.11) were notably higher. There were no notable variations in von Frey values across the groups on the second day. However, a correlation was found between von Frey values on the first and second days. Conclusion: Cocoa can potentially serve as an effective preemptive analgesic agent, reducing pain and inflammation primarily by reducing TNF-α levels. These results provide validity to the use of cocoa as an alternative therapy in acute pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the agricultural sector is a strategic approach by the Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) to support the smallholder cocoa farmers' community (SCFC) in generating income and alleviating poverty. (SCFC) faces productivity issues in cocoa production, in terms of both quality and quantity. Consequently, MCB has implemented a cocoa productivity enhancement program to encourage the adoption of Malaysian good agricultural practices (MyGAP) among (SCFC). However, literature suggests that awareness and acceptance of MyGAP within the community remain low. Thus, this study aims to identify the knowledge, attitude, and practice levels of (SCFC) within the MyGAP context. A quantitative study was conducted using a survey research approach on 195 (SCFC) members, utilizing a questionnaire as the data collection tool. The census technique was applied to respondents across the East Coast zone of Sabah. The study employs the KAP Model as its theoretical foundation to measure respondents' knowledge, attitude, and practices toward MyGAP. Findings indicate that the majority of smallholders are first-generation cocoa farmers, aged between 51 and 60 years, with 1 to 20 years of experience in agriculture. The highest mean score for good agricultural practices (GAP) was observed in practice (mean = 4.20), followed by attitude (mean = 4.08), and knowledge (mean = 4.01) among (SCFC). This study contributes to community development knowledge by implementing MyGAP, thereby enhancing national food security through the cocoa commodity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction of butter from cocoa seeds involves various processing steps that weaken the lipid‐storing cell walls of cocoa cotyledons. Roasting is particularly critical, making cocoa nibs porous and brittle. In this study, the degree of disruption of the microstructure of cocoa nibs, and the quality and aroma profile of cocoa butter, were evaluated using two roasting techniques, forced convective oven, and fluidized bed. Fluidized bed roasting, recognized for its energy efficiency and low‐carbon footprint, was 12 times faster than oven roasting. This technique allowed a rapid release of steam when parenchyma cell walls were still in a glassy state, while oven roasting caused gradual physical modification allowing the cell wall to become more elastic. Consequently, small pores expanded and coalesced to produce larger pores. X‐ray tomographic analysis showed a total porosity in unroasted cocoa nibs of 8.5 ± 2.0% (vol/vol), which was doubled upon oven roasting and triplicated upon fluidized bed roasting. The higher porosity in fluidized‐bed‐roasted nibs was reflected in the lowest densities and highest cocoa butter yield. Cocoa butter obtained from fluidized‐bed roasted cocoa showed a higher presence of pyrazines and 3‐methylbutanal, and a lower concentration of hydroperoxides, thus enhancing the chocolate flavor and quality. In this paper, we proved that the pore structure of cocoa nibs is a key quality descriptor of roasting processing, and we concluded by quality considerations that fluidized bed roasting technique should be preferred for cocoa nibs roasting over conventional roasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper examines the potential of "biomarkers" to provide immutable identification for food products (chocolate), providing traceability and visibility in the supply chain from retail product back to farm. Design/methodology/approach: This research uses qualitative data collection, including fieldwork at cocoa farms and chocolate manufacturers in Ecuador and the Netherlands and semi-structured interviews with industry professionals to identify challenges and create a supply chain map from cocoa plant to retailer, validated by area experts. A library of biomarkers is created using DNA collected from fieldwork and the International Cocoa Quarantine Centre, holders of cocoa varieties from known locations around the world. Matching sample biomarkers with those in the library enables identification of origins of cocoa used in a product, even when it comes from multiple different sources and has been processed. Findings: Supply chain mapping and interviews identify areas of the cocoa supply chain that lack the visibility required for management to guarantee sustainability and quality. A decoupling point, where smaller farms/traders' goods are combined to create larger economic units, obscures product origins and limits visibility. These factors underpin a potential boundary condition to institutional theory in the industry's fatalism to environmental and human abuses in the face of rising institutional pressures. Biomarkers reliably identify product origin, including specific farms and (fermentation) processing locations, providing visibility and facilitating control and trust when purchasing cocoa. Research limitations/implications: The biomarker "meta-barcoding" of cocoa beans used in chocolate manufacturing accurately identifies the farm, production facility or cooperative, where a cocoa product came from. A controlled data set of biomarkers of registered locations is required for audit to link chocolate products to origin. Practical implications: Where biomarkers can be produced from organic products, they offer a method for closing visibility gaps, enabling responsible sourcing. Labels (QR codes, barcodes, etc.) can be swapped and products tampered with, but biological markers reduce reliance on physical tags, diminishing the potential for fraud. Biomarkers identify product composition, pinpointing specific farm(s) of origin for cocoa in chocolate, allowing targeted audits of suppliers and identifying if cocoa of unknown origin is present. Labour and environmental abuses exist in many supply chains and enabling upstream visibility may help firms address these challenges. Social implications: By describing a method for firms in cocoa supply chains to scientifically track their cocoa back to the farm level, the research shows that organizations can conduct social audits for child labour and environmental abuses at specific farms proven to be in their supply chains. This provides a method for delivering supply chain visibility (SCV) for firms serious about tackling such problems. Originality/value: This paper provides one of the very first examples of biomarkers for agricultural SCV. An in-depth study of stakeholders from the cocoa and chocolate industry elucidates problematic areas in cocoa supply chains. Biomarkers provide a unique biological product identifier. Biomarkers can support efforts to address environmental and social sustainability issues such as child labour, modern slavery and deforestation by providing visibility into previously hidden areas of the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Development Research is the property of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: Based on the resource curse paradox, we argued that farmers are crowded out due to their lower marginal propensity to bargain, making them vulnerable to livelihood shocks. Consequently, we examined the spillover effect of surface mining on cocoa farmers in the Wassa Amenfi East and West districts. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a mixed research design, a total sample of 758 farmers were proportionately sampled from 14 purposively selected communities from Wassa Amenfi East and West districts. In addition, community extension agents, chief farmers and opinion leaders were formed into a focus group for discussion. The quantitative data were presented using descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon Sign Ranked test and triangulated with emergent issues from the focus group discussions. Research Implications/Limitations: The study largely focused on cocoa farmers who were affected by surface mining. As a result, the findings of this study were interpreted within that scope unless they are confirmed by studies that involve a cross-section of cocoa farmers. Findings: We found that the livelihoods of cocoa farmers have deteriorated due to significant reductions in cocoa farm sizes and yields attributed to surface mining activities in the districts. Generally, cocoa farmers willingly gave out farmlands to miners to receive a bulk sum of money. The processes involved in the computation and payment of compensation were not in line with protocols enshrined in the Minerals and Mining Act 703 of Ghana and the tenets of the entitlement theory of justice. Practical Implications: Sustainable land-use planning is a crucial element in mitigating the negative impacts and fostering resilient cocoa-farming communities in the affected districts. Based on this the study highlights the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses environmental and economic challenges. Social Implications: The social implication of the study lies in the ability of cocoa farmer groups to advise their members against giving out their cocoa farms to surface miners and to make them aware that cocoa trees are heritage cash crops that are for use by current and future generations. Originality/Value: The paper contributes to the debate on the weakness of mining laws in protecting vulnerable groups with a focus on surface mining that crowds out farmers from the land market and dislocates them from their livelihood activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of cocoa beans in Indonesia into chocolate and other cocoa-derived products produces emissions that pollute the environment. This research aimed to calculate the carbon footprint of the cocoa agroindustry using the Life Cycle Assessment approach in Lampung, Indonesia. The LCA under study is within the scope of Cradle to Grave, starting from nurseries_cocoa plantations_dry cocoa beans_chocolate production_retail, and consumers with emission function units per 1 kg of product. The method refers to the ISO 14040:2006 life cycle assessment standard, with the stages of determining objectives and scope, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation of recommendations. Primary data was analyzed using Simapro 9.4.0.2 Software. Secondary data was collected through a literature study. Data analysis shows the highest environmental impact after normalization resulting from four activities: packaging, transportation from industry to marketing office, and transportation from marketing office to retail. The highest environmental impact is generated by industrial activities, with a total emission of 2.57E-10 per kg of dark chocolate. In this study, GWP 100a emissions from cocoa agroforestry and agroindustry activities within the scope of the Cradle to Grave study were 7.31E+01 kg CO2-eq per kg dark chocolate. In addition, selecting the type of packaging is an indicator that must be considered. Using a combination of aluminum foil, paper, and cardboard as packaging causes the second highest emission in the packaging sub-process after transportation from industry to marketing office in industrial activities. It is the 4th highest of all activities. One of the reasons for the high emissions produced in the final product or cocoa consumed by consumers is no longer in doubt. On the basis of normalization activities, the highest environmental impacts were generated by industrial activities, with a total emission of 2.57E-10. The use of packaging in packaging and fuel activities in transportation from industry to marketing office activities, industrial activities also use quite a large amount of electrical energy, namely 421.91 kWh. Recommendations for improvement can be identified to reduce the GHG impact and increase energy efficiency. Energy-saving sustainablemethods constitute a challenge for the cocoa agroindustry because they positively impact the reduction of the global warming potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit counting and ripeness detection are computer vision applications that have gained strength in recent years due to the advancement of new algorithms, especially those based on artificial neural networks (ANNs), better known as deep learning. In agriculture, those algorithms capable of fruit counting, including information about their ripeness, are mainly applied to make production forecasts or plan different activities such as fertilization or crop harvest. This paper presents the RipSetCocoaCNCH12 dataset of cocoa pods labeled at four different ripeness stages: stage 1 (0–2 months), stage 2 (2–4 months), stage 3 (4–6 months), and harvest stage (>6 months). An additional class was also included for pods aborted by plants in the early stage of development. A total of 4116 images were labeled to train algorithms that mainly perform semantic and instance segmentation. The labeling was carried out with CVAT (Computer Vision Annotation Tool). The dataset, therefore, includes labeling in two formats: COCO 1.0 and segmentation mask 1.1. The images were taken with different mobile devices (smartphones), in field conditions, during the harvest season at different times of the day, which could allow the algorithms to be trained with data that includes many variations in lighting, colors, textures, and sizes of the cocoa pods. As far as we know, this is the first openly available dataset for cocoa pod detection with semantic segmentation for five classes, 4116 images, and 7917 instances, comprising RGB images and two different formats for labels. With the publication of this dataset, we expect that researchers in smart farming, especially in cocoa cultivation, can benefit from the quantity and variety of images it contains. Dataset: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7968315. Dataset License: Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ecuador, various processes are applied during cocoa post-harvesting. This study, therefore, explored fermentation parameters across two locations with 2–7 independent runs, focusing on temperature, microbial counts, pH during fermentation and drying, and their impact on cocoa bean quality. Factors including fermentation devices (jute bags, plastic bags, and wooden boxes), pre-drying, turning during fermentation, fermentation duration, and drying temperature were investigated. Fermenting in plastic bags without pre-drying or turning and fermenting in jute bags for only 40 ± 2.0 h yielded low maximal fermentation temperatures Tmax (31.1 ± 0.4 °C and 37.6 ± 1.8 °C), leading to bitter, astringent, woody, and earthy cocoa liquor. Longer fermentation (63 ± 6 h) in wooden boxes with turning (Wt) and in jute bags with pre-drying and turning (Jpt) achieved the highest Tmax of 46.5 ± 2.0 °C, and a more acidic cocoa liquor, particularly in Wt (both locations) and Jpt (location E). Therefore, it is recommended to ferment for a minimum duration from day 1 to 4 (63 ± 6 h), whether using plastic bags (with mandatory pre-drying) or jute bags (with or without pre-drying or turning). Furthermore, this study underscores the risks associated with excessively high drying temperatures (up to 95.2 ± 13.7 °C) and specific dryer types, which can falsify cut-tests and introduce unwanted burnt-roasted off-flavors in the cocoa liquor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contributions of the agricultural sector to economic growth of developing countries of which Ghana is no exception cannot be overemphasized. Despite the sector being the mainstay of the Ghanaian economy, it is still confronted with several challenges. As a result, several agricultural policies such as, cocoa sector strategy, cocoa disease and pest control and cocoa high technology programmes have been implemented over the years. This study therefore examines the impact of these policies on cocoa production as well as on export. Using annual time series data over the period 1961–2017, the interrupted time series analysis is employed to address the objective of the study. The results reveal that cocoa sector strategy, cocoa disease and pest control, and cocoa high technology have boosted cocoa production. With regard to the export of cocoa, it is revealed that only the cocoa sector strategy policy has promoted cocoa export. The policy implication of the results is that there is a need for the sustainability of these agricultural policies. In terms of contribution and novelty, this paper investigates the impact of all three agricultural policies [cocoa sector strategy (CSS), cocoa disease and pest control programme (CODAPEC) and cocoa high technology programme (CHTP)] that Ghana has implemented over the years regarding cocoa production, which previous studies have not considered. This paper is also the first study to examine the impact of these agricultural policies on export of cocoa in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We assessed cocoa farmers' access to, demand for, and satisfaction with five innovation support services and the factors shaping them. Design/methodology/approach: We used data from 10 focus groups and a survey of 421 farmers in Central Cameroon. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and regression models. Findings: Results showed that farmers mostly receive training and advice whereas inputs, credit, and equipment are the most demanded services. Training and advice obtained the highest perceived quality score. Conflicts around distribution and capture by leaders were relatively frequent regarding inputs and equipment. Farmers' satisfaction with service outcomes increased with the number of services received and any services above training and advice yielded higher outcomes. Location, involvement in certification, seniority, and leadership position in farmers' organisations were significantly associated with access and demand for at least two services while satisfaction with quality was mostly influenced by prior services received and the extent to which they matched expectations. Practical implications: Farmers' demands for services are diverse, hence the importance of providing them with either service bundles or options from which they can choose. Additional efforts are needed from service providers to create an enabling environment for the implementation of the disseminated sustainable management practices. Theoretical implications: Farmers' satisfaction with services can be analysed from different perspectives. Both endogenous and exogenous factors determine access to, demand for, and satisfaction with services. Originality/value: This research is the first to assess the provision of innovation support services in the cocoa sector using an analytical framework that combines demand, access, and satisfaction with five services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physicochemical and biochemical changes during the fermentation of four clones and two native varieties of Theobroma cacao L. were studied. Fermentation was performed in traditional wood cubes. During fermentation, the cotyledon pH decreased, and the temperature increased to more than 10 °C above the ambient temperature (47 °C). The fermentation index (FI) increased in the clones C1, C4, C8, C9, and Guayaquil (G) to close to one at 120 h of fermentation. For the FI of the cocoa Criollo (Cr), a value of 2.5 was proposed according to the spectrophotometric scan performance. The total polyphenol content increased in all the samples from 21 (C8) to 70 (Cr) % in a comparison of the TPC at T0 and T120, respectively. The total flavonoid content increased from 16 (C8) to 51% in Guayaquil (G) during the fermentation period. In the case of the methylxanthines, such as theobromine and caffeine, both quantities decreased. The theobromine content decreased in all the samples from 6 (G) to 31% (C8). The caffeine content decreased in all the samples from 3% in Cr to 25% in C1 and G after fermentation. The antioxidant capability did not change after 120 h of fermentation, and the amount of methylxanthines did not affect the antioxidant potential of the fermented cocoa. The FTIR scan of the fat-free cocoa showed significant differences between the unfermented and fermented beans, and several peaks assigned to carbohydrates and proteins decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Development Research is the property of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to obtain drinking yogurts enriched with ACTICOA cocoa powder (ACTICOA), its extract (EACTICOA) and pure phenolics, as well as their inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins and alginate–chitosan (A-Ch) capsules, and to evaluate the effects of these additives on the viability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and antioxidant properties of fresh yogurts and yogurts stored for 14 days at 4 °C. The application of cocoa phenolic compounds in free form and in the form of EACTICOA to yogurts resulted in the greatest increase in the concentration of phenolic compounds and a significant improvement in the antioxidant properties of the fortified products. The highest TPC was found in yogurts enriched with free quercetin (107.98 mg CE/g). Yogurt fortified with free gallic acid showed the highest ability to neutralize free radicals (EC50 = 2.74 mg/mg DPPH, EC50 = 5.40 mg/mg ABTS) and reduce ferric ions (183.48 µM Trolox/g). The enrichment of yogurts with the tested phenolic compounds preparations, especially in the form of encapsulates, did not affect the viability of LAB during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern world, interest in health products has increased due to increased attention to a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet. However, there is a need to master technologies for the production of health products to preserve the maximum amount of useful substances and use innovative methods of processing raw materials. That is why the purpose of this study was to review and analyse existing technologies for the production of health-improving food products, in particular, with the use of plant raw materials. Scientific and technical literature and regulatory documentation served as materials and methods. A sample of individual periods was created and analysed according to selected indicators, namely the volume of food production, the dynamics of vegetable, fruit, and berry crops, the commodity structure of the wholesale turnover of processed fruits and vegetables, the volume of baby food and dietary food production, the volume of cocoa, chocolate, and sugar confectionery production, and the average daily consumption of basic microand macro-nutrients in certain food products by the population. It was determined that the volume of the health food market for the period 2015-2020 increased by 1.3 trillion USD in value terms, while the range of traditional food products expanded by an average of 2-3% per year. The production of vegetable crops by households in 2021 exceeded the production of enterprises by 6.2 times, in 2020 - 5.5 times and in 2019 - 5.2 times. The production of fruit and berry crops in Ukraine in 2021 was 6.3% more than in 2020, and in 2020 - 8.7% more than in 2019. The dynamics of the average daily intake of protein, fat, iron, niacin, ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, calcium, retinol, β-carotene equivalents, retinol and β-carotene (RET+ 1/6 B-CARQ) in food products help to determine the deficit and surplus of macro- and micro-nutrients in the diet of consumers. In general, the use of health food products, including children's and dietary nutrition, is promising and competitive, and the feasibility of using plant-based raw materials in health nutrition and the development of new health products is also confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Feed Research is the property of Institute of Food Technology in Novi Sad and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of the research was to propose probable scenarios for the year 2030 for the cocoa value chain in the department of Antioquia (Colombia), based on functional approach to analysing territorial innovation systems (TIS). TIS in the cocoa value chain was analysed by comparing two rural municipalities as case studies, where different actors respectively participated. Prospective analysis approach, Delphi method, MICMAC program and morphological analysis were combined for the construction of scenarios. Case study comparison indicates that analysis at the territorial level is an appropriate perspective to identify key aspects of the TIS functions that lead to different scenarios for promoting local innovation in agri-food value chains. The results provide specific scenarios including short-, medium- and long-term strategies for the promotion of territorial innovation systems. This approach has the potential for multiple heterogeneous TIS actors to explore different innovation pathways and prospective scenarios that contribute to action planning to reduce uncertainty and promote innovation in TIS. This study contributes with a new way of approaching the functions of TIS, where dynamics that occur in the local geography are highlighted. Also based on the prospective analysis, scenarios are configured that arise from a set of aspects analysed by local and external actors of the territories. The study generates important knowledge about TIS and the functional approach regarding the design of prospective scenarios to promote innovation in agri-food value chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]