Swollen shoot disease is spreading rapidly across Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, putting an estimated 15% of the country’s cocoa supply at risk, according to a new study by non-profit organisation Enveritas.
The study, released on Monday, is based on surveys conducted across more than 11,600 cocoa farms in Ivory Coast. It found that over 41% of the farms surveyed showed signs of infection, highlighting the growing scale of a disease that has long troubled the West African cocoa sector but is now reaching more damaging levels.
Cocoa swollen shoot disease is a viral infection transmitted mainly by mealybugs. It causes swelling of shoots, leaf discoloration, reduced yields, and eventually the death of cocoa trees. There is no known cure, and the primary control method involves cutting down and replanting infected trees, a process that is costly and disruptive for farmers who depend on cocoa for their livelihoods.
Ivory Coast produces around 40% of the world’s cocoa, making the disease a serious concern for global chocolate supply chains already under pressure from climate change, ageing farms, and rising production costs. A sustained loss of 15% of national output would have implications not only for farmers’ incomes but also for global cocoa prices and downstream industries.
Enveritas warned that delayed detection and inconsistent replanting programmes are worsening the situation. In some regions, farmers are reluctant to destroy infected trees without guaranteed compensation or support during the years it takes for new cocoa trees to mature and begin producing.
The Ivorian government has previously launched campaigns to fight swollen shoot disease, including farm mapping, farmer education, and subsidised replanting. However, experts say the scale of the outbreak now requires stronger coordination between authorities, buyers, and international partners to prevent deeper supply losses.
With global cocoa markets already volatile, the study adds to growing concerns that structural challenges in West Africa could reshape cocoa production in the coming years if disease control efforts fail to keep pace with its spread.
Ivory coast cocoa industry faces crisis amid falling global prices
