[abhaga]

With diseases, world might actually run out of chocolate or at least some varieties of it. Like Panama disease wiped out Gros Michel banana and is now also threatening Cavendish banana. Similarly Frosty Pod Rot seems to be spreading and threatening cocoa plantations.

[nmcfarl]

That would be an interesting article, this one however was kinda pointless, as it appeared to be predicated on prices not rising, with only a tiny call out to frosty pod.

[grayclhn]

That may be true, but it's not mentioned in the article. Is there a good reference if anyone wants to read up on Frosty Pod Rot?

edit: apparently it is mentioned in passing. oops.

[mikeash]

If the very existence of chocolate were actually threatened, the resources that will be made available to save it would be almost incomprehensible. People really like the stuff, and there is no real substitute.

Bananas aren't that big of a deal for most people, especially if you're looking at going from two popular varieties to one. If the Cavendish gets wiped out too, I'd say that would just be due to people not caring all that much about bananas. I can't imagine the same happening for chocolate.

[abhaga]

Actually bananas are a huge deal since they provide the basic nutrition for large populations in many parts of the world. Also Cavendish is the dominant set of varieties world over and there are not many real substitutes for it, yet.

[shalmanese]

In Central Africa, Bananas and Plantains can make up over 30% of the daily caloric intake for the average person.