Due to high cocoa bean prices, concerns about deforestation and child labor, the Swiss chocolate industry is seeking new ingredients. Cocoa prices have reached record highs, leading to a deficit in cocoa beans production. The European Union’s “zero deforestation” regulation and pressure from the market are driving this search. Start-ups like Nukoko and ChoViva are developing cocoa-free chocolate using ingredients like fava beans, oats, and sunflower seeds. Italian company Foreverland is using carob as a cocoa substitute. Researchers are also exploring innovative ways to use cocoa fruit and convert greenhouse gases into cocoa butter. The future of chocolate may involve different ingredients but aims to maintain familiar flavors.
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/multinational-companies/the-chocolate-of-the-future-will-have-less-cocoa-or-none-at-all/78517426