Food Technology Magazine | Research
Cocoa, Reengineered
Tilo Hühn, professor at the ZHAW School of Life Sciences and Facility Management in Switzerland, is working on a process to create a cell-cultured alternative to conventionally produced cocoa.
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When cocoa prices reached a high of $12,000 a tonne in 2024, chocolate companies were hit hard. More than 70% of cocoa is sourced from West and Central Africa, which has felt the impact of unpredictable weather and a new virus affecting cacao trees. While the price per tonne dropped in 2025, the chocolate industry remains focused on controlling raw material costs.
“There is a big challenge when it comes to crop failure,” says Tilo Hühn, professor at the ZHAW School of Life Sciences and Facility M…
