Climate change madness: First successful cocoa plantation on European soil - Tropical crops can now be grown in Southern Spain

[gangleri2001]

Malaga is the first place in Europe where cocoa is successfully grown​

January 13, 2023

@StockImage

MÁLAGA – Malaga has succeeded in cultivating the first cocoa plantation in Europe. The first harvest with cocoa of 100% origin Malaga is a fact and a historical milestone.

The planting was carried out by CSIC researchers and researchers from the University of Malaga (UMA) in an unheated greenhouse at the Institute of Subtropical and Mediterranean Horticulture La Mayora in Algarrobo. Here the flowers are pollinated by hand. The first harvest is therefore successful because it is the first time in history that this exotic plant has been able to grow on European soil.

Tropical product​

Cocoa is native to the Amazon and is therefore a species adapted to tropical climates. Currently, Latin America brings together 80% of world production and is the continent’s leading producer of cocoa varieties. According to the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), between 70% and 100% of total cocoa exports come from countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Mexico.
Africa is also one of the major producers of cocoa. The plant is Ghana’s main cash crop and the country’s main agricultural export. Among the largest cocoa producers in the world, Ghana is second only to Ivory Coast.
After harvesting, the cocoa beans are dried and fermented for export to countries such as the Netherlands or Belgium. Tons of cocoa come to Europe for its production, but it has not been possible to grow cocoa in any European country. Until now in the province of Malaga.

Temperature is the first obstacle to cocoa cultivation​

The project is led by researcher Iñaki Hormaza, head of the Subtropical Fruit Growing Department. He confesses in La Opinión de Málaga that “it is not the first time that cocoa has been planted in Europe”, but the weather conditions were always the main obstacle. Cocoa is a tropical plant that only survives in a climate where it does not fall below 15 degrees. Therefore, outdoor cultivation is not possible outside the tropical climate. If you want to plant cocoa in Europe and keep it well, the temperature must be kept under control. That has now been achieved in La Mayora.
The fact that the researchers in Malaga have succeeded in adapting the plants to the climate is a milestone. “We managed to maintain the temperature in the greenhouse without heating because even if the temperature drops, it recovers during the day and is enough to maintain the crop. Both attempts have been made in greenhouses without heating and with heating. Moreover, the results were positive in places without heating,” confirms Iñaki Hormoza.

Pollination as an achievement​

Another research achievement is pollination. Cocoa flowers have entomophilic pollination, that is, they can only be pollinated by insects. Small flies in the greenhouses take care of that. To pollinate the plants, the researchers “did it manually, although we see that the greenhouse insects can help pollinate themselves,” says Hormaza.
The experiment started in 2020 and three years later, about 80 plants of four cocoa varieties are starting to bear fruit. However, the work of the researchers in La Mayora does not stop there. They will now focus their research on the optimal moment of cocoa harvest.

Water as an obstacle​

Water is another important aspect of this production. The lack of water is one of the handicaps of Malaga because there is a lot of drought in the province. Nevertheless, Iñaki Hormaza claims that “the lack of water is not a problem because the plants in the greenhouse need less water”.

Malaga as a producer of Andalucian cocoa?​

On whether Málaga could become a producer of Andalucian cocoa, Hormaza is clear: “No, not in large quantities. It is very expensive to produce and maintain. However, it can be a gastronomic product sold to specific producers “, he emphasises.
The next challenge for the Mayora researchers is “seeing whether we can optimise the process with other varieties. At what point should the chocolate be collected, fermented and produced,” he says.

Source: https://inspain.news/malaga-is-the-first-place-in-europe-where-cocoa-is-successfully-grown/



Not gonna lie, this is really scary. Successful tropical plantations in Europe. I never thought I'd see this

 

[Gorbles]

Malaga is a nice place, my grandparents lived there for a good while.

Cocoa plants are cool too.

The ongoing horror of climate change and the business interests that attempt to convince people it's a non-issue, less so.

 

[Senethro]

Thats how they're going to do it, isn't it?

No such thing as climate challenges, rather climate OPPORTUNITIES! Invest in crypto backed, locally sourced, tropical agricultural product.

Edit: Wait, AGssets. Hmmmm i better register some domains

 

[uppi]

Uhh... The cocoa plant was grown in a greenhouse. This looks like this is related much more to greenhouse construction than climate change.

*checking weather forecast for Malaga*

Nope, it is not possible to grow tropical plants in open air (for now... )

 

[Kyriakos]

Spain becoming like the former colonies ^^

 

[thetrooper]

Call me when @Snerk grows acacia in his backyard.

 

[El_Machinae]

It will be a series of opportunities, so keeping an eye out for those will make good sense. Just spiral some of the profits into helping people.

If you don't, someone else will seize the opportunities and then spend on themselves

 

[Joij21]

If you don't, someone else will seize the opportunities and then spend on themselves

That's what I intend to do. Woke moralist!

 

[Gorbles]

Uhh... The cocoa plant was grown in a greenhouse. This looks like this is related much more to greenhouse construction than climate change.

*checking weather forecast for Malaga*

Nope, it is not possible to grow tropical plants in open air (for now... )

As mentioned in the excerpt quoted in the OP, the outside temperature (as you'd expect) has an impact on the viability of this. So yes, climate change is still a factor (for those who aren't that familiar with Spain, and indeed I wouldn't know of Malaga without the family connection), Malaga is in the very south of the country. Pretty much the dead middle (of Spain, not the whole geographic outcrop), a bit up the coast from Gibraltar.

 

[Snerk]

Call me when @Snerk grows acacia in his backyard.

Oh when the time comes I'll be growing a lot of funky business in my backyard!

 

[El_Machinae]

That's what I intend to do. Woke moralist!

Hopefully someday you will realize that you need less to be happy, and that will unleash all of your productivity to making the future better

 

[Joij21]

Hopefully someday you will realize that you need less to be happy, and that will unleash all of your productivity to making the future better

You need an actual college degree to make the future better. I'm far too old and broke to desire one now, and even if I got rich overnight I would see no material reason to then get one anyway at that point.

Meaning it's a natural catch 22.

 

[Kyriakos]

It's not like the state couldn't support poor people more/tax those with more money than they need more. Isn't viable to leave it to private individuals, imo.

 

[Joij21]

It's not like the state couldn't support poor people more/tax those with more money than they need more. Isn't viable to leave it to private individuals, imo.

Well, the rich are more mobile. If ya know what I mean.

 

[uppi]

As mentioned in the excerpt quoted in the OP, the outside temperature (as you'd expect) has an impact on the viability of this. So yes, climate change is still a factor

It might or it might not. Maybe the same greenhouse would have been sufficient 50 years ago. Or maybe the windows would have needed to be 5mm thicker. Or this is only possible, because climate change made a cold snap much less likely. Since the article does not mention climate change (or gives any further details), we do not know.

 

[Gorbles]

It might or it might not. Maybe the same greenhouse would have been sufficient 50 years ago. Or maybe the windows would have needed to be 5mm thicker. Or this is only possible, because climate change made a cold snap much less likely. Since the article does not mention climate change (or gives any further details), we do not know.

They literally say how the outside temperature has been relevant, and how this factors into the uniqueness of their success in cultivating the crop. Quoting again from the OP for relevance:

If you want to plant cocoa in Europe and keep it well, the temperature must be kept under control. That has now been achieved in La Mayora.
The fact that the researchers in Malaga have succeeded in adapting the plants to the climate is a milestone. “We managed to maintain the temperature in the greenhouse without heating because even if the temperature drops, it recovers during the day and is enough to maintain the crop. Both attempts have been made in greenhouses without heating and with heating. Moreover, the results were positive in places without heating,” confirms Iñaki Hormoza.

You can absolutely say "we do not know", but educated guesses are possible.

 

[pob]

Malaga has a history of growing fruits/plants that aren't viable in the rest of Spain going back hundreds of years. It is a little alarmist to say this is due to climate change.

 

[Zardnaar]

Hothouse changes things so yeah.

Anecdotally they're doing similar things in far north of NZ which has a Mediterranean type climate almost. Dint think cocoa is viable but they're testing citrus and other crops.

Perfect marijuana place though

 

[Thorgalaeg]

I don't see reason to panic (yet). It is not like the cocoa has grown spontaneously on some open pasture, it has been grown in a special greenhouse at an university by agricultural engineers after five years of research.

 

[Gorbles]

Malaga has a history of growing fruits/plants that aren't viable in the rest of Spain going back hundreds of years. It is a little alarmist to say this is due to climate change.

It's alarmist to say that it's not, considering that this is one data point amongst many when it comes to the potential impact of climate change. You have to be open to the argument, otherwise you're insisting on something without considering the evidence.

The evidence is simple. If they have a history going back hundreds of years, why has it taken to long to grow a successful cocoa crop?