Climate Change and the Cocoa Industry: Leveraging Science and Technology for Sustainability

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Climate change is emerging as a major threat to the sustainability of a wide range of human activities. Early international responses to climate change focused on limiting carbon dioxide emissions. More recently, the international community is complementing mitigation efforts with adaptation measures. Most of these measures require increased application of environmental science in public policy.

The aim of this workshop is to explore the role of science and technology in adapting the global cocoa and chocolate industry to climate change. More specifically, the workshop will develop a roadmap on how to leverage the power of institutions of higher learning to respond to the sustainability challenges facing the industry. The US$95 billion is used as a source of inspirational models on how to respond to sustainability challenges facing other major global agricultural commodities.

The workshop is the conclusion of a semester-long Harvard College seminar on “Biotechnology, Sustainability and Public Policy” taught by Professor Calestous Juma and supported by Katherine Gordon. It is part of the “Environment Science and Public Policy” concentration. The workshop will include participants from industry, academia, trade associations and other relevant organizations. Follow-up activities will be led by Inge Skjelfjord Inge_Skjelfjord@harvard.edu, 2014 Advanced Leadership Fellow at Harvard University.

This event is co-sponsored by Harvard University Center for the Environment.