New European environmental laws like the European Deforestation Regulation are targeting different agricultural commodities to decrease deforestation levels in mother countries. However, after years of constant contestation between the European Parliament, Council, and Commission, a vital question remains: what does becoming more sustainable actually mean? How does it affect not just the land, but the ones who inhabit, take care of, and live from it?

Cocoa is far more than just a cash crop or an exchangeable commodity. Over 60% of the cocoa consumed in Europe is grown in West Africa between just two countries: Ivory Coast and Ghana. For us to enjoy it in our day-to-day life, whether in Salzburg’s famous Sachertorte or at Vienna’s artisan chocolatiers’ delicatessens, depends entirely on the well-being of the farmers who plant, grow, ferment, sell, and transport it.

This Tuesday, we look at the realities of extractivism through the lens of Lydia Kekeli Amenyaglo. Mixing both worlds as half-German and half-Ghanaian, Lydia moved back to Ghana to create Plentyplenty Africa (a regenerative cocoa farm) and as the Creative Director of Ghana Food Movement. Together, we explore how cocoa can be understood as a powerful cultural symbol to reclaim Ghana’s identity, moving beyond colonization trade dynamics to precisely challenge them. Tune in as we reimagine the cocoa supply chain in the new world order we are living in today.

Sendungsgestaltung: Estefania Lawrence Crespo (Radiomacherin und Mentee der Women* on Air/Globalen Dialoge) und Marina Vidal (Journalistin mit Sitz in Brüssel)

Im Gespräch mit:

Lydia Kekeli Amenyaglo, Gründerin und Geschäftsführerin der Kakaofarm Plentyplenty Africa sowie künstlerische Leitung des Ghana Food Movement

Weiterführende Links:

Plenty Plenty Africa – Regenerative cocoa farm and creative studio based in Krabokese, Ghana. https://www.instagram.com/plentyplenty.africa/

Behind the Chocolate Bar – Investigative environmental journalism project by Estefania Lawrance and Marina Vidal. https://readymag.website/u2346734600/chocolate/

Ghana Food Movement – Organisation promoting sustainable and locally rooted food systems in Ghana. https://www.ghanafoodmovement.com/

EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) – Information on the European Union’s regulation to prevent products linked to deforestation from entering the EU market. https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/forests/deforestation/regulation-deforestation-free-products_en

Sendungssprache: Englisch

Musik:

Daddy Lumba – Abend Waha

Obrafour – Who Jah Bless

Kojo Antwi – Densu

Shatta Wale & Beyoncé – Already

Fotocredit: Plentyplenty Africa