World's chocolate supply threatened by devastating virus

Cacao swollen shoot virus disease leads to death of 50% of some harvests

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423155910.htm

Summary:

A rapidly spreading virus threatens the health of the cacao tree and the dried seeds from which chocolate is made, jeopardizing the global supply of the world's most popular treat. Researchers have developed a new strategy:using mathematical data to determine how far apart farmers can plant vaccinated treesto prevent mealybugs from jumping from one tree to another and spreading the virus.