![]() ![]() This was a higher threshold than the researchers had expected and has the possibility to be increased further under correct management. This includes maintaining soil moisture and controlling pest and disease occurrence. Wilma Blaser, lead author: “ Thanks to our research on shade trees, we were able to put forward specific recommendations for the optimum degree of shade in cocoa farming." And the results have uncovered just that at around 30% shade coverage yield is not yet affected by the shade trees but the numerous ecological benefits they provide are all present. A paper published by researchers at the Sustainable Agroecosystems group at ETH Zurich has sought to remedy this by comparing shaded and unshaded cocoa plantations in Ghana in order to establish the optimum point for compromise. Given the strong case for both types of farming it is surprising then that there has been little research on the relative trade-off between the two and how the costs and benefits weigh up. Johan Six, research group head: "More ecology can make farming more sustainable and more stable." In these heterogeneous environments, diseases spread less quickly, and fluctuations in temperature can be buffered by shade, creating more stable yields over time. Shade trees help regulate temperature and humidity around the crops and are able to help keep harmful organisms in check. Shade cultivation is now being shown to provide benefits for biodiversity, soil fertility and carbon absorption. The presence of shade trees provides direct competition for nutrients and prevents light from reaching the crop so therefore the removal of these constraints makes sense in order to maximise profit.īut scientists and environmentalists alike are beginning to realise the error of this switch for the ecology of cocoa plantations. However, higher-yielding, full-sun monocultures eventually superseded this as pressure to produce higher and higher yields increased. The goal for many therefore is to at least maintain yields and hopefully increase them.Ĭocoa was first cultivated as a shade crop, underneath the canopies of native trees. But obtaining higher yields represents a great challenge for many smallholders in the face of increased disease and pest problems as well as ever decreasing soil fertility. ![]() Optimisation of productivity costs and ecological benefits of shade cocoa farming uncoveredĬhocolate consumption has been on an upward slope for decades and demand shows no sign of slowing. ![]()
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