This is the 2nd episode of a five-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward Podcast, hosted by Map It Forward founder, Lee Safar.

The guest on this podcast series is Antonie Fountain, Managing Director and co-founder at VOICE Network (cocoa) and VOCAL Alliance (coffee).

In this series, Lee and Antonie explore the state of the cocoa industry is with particular attention on the impact recent price spikes are having on producers and the sustainability of the market at large.

In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, Lee and Antonie discuss the severe challenges facing cocoa production in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire due to climate events, economic conditions, and inadequate policies.

Learn about the impacts of the El Nino weather pattern, the cost of living crisis, and disruptions in agrochemical supply, leading to a drastic drop in cocoa yields and a significant spike in cocoa prices.

This episode also covers the complexities of the futures market, the role of government policies, and the rising potential and challenges for cocoa farmers.

Stay informed about how these dynamics affect the global cocoa market and explore solutions like regenerative agriculture.

Don't miss the next episode, which delves deeper into the issue of producer poverty in the cocoa industry.

00:00 Introduction to Cocoa Crisis

01:00 Sponsorship Message

01:39 Deep Dive into Cocoa Prices

02:33 Impact of El Nino on Cocoa Production

05:33 Challenges in Cocoa Farming

11:53 Regenerative Agriculture and Future Prospects

14:52 Power Dynamics in Cocoa Trade

15:41 Government Policies and Market Impact

24:09 Advice for Cocoa Producers

29:32 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

Connect with Antonie Fountain and Voice Network here:

https://www.voicenetwork.cc

https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonie/

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🤑 This episode is brought to you by Map It Forward's revised on-demand online workshop "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" available now on our website with additional new bonus material including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops

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