BIG COCOA: PRICE STRUGGLES IN WEST AFRICA

Cinemavixion Review

This documentary delves into the complex and often contentious world of cocoa production in West Africa. Titled 'Big Cocoa: Price Struggles In West Africa,' the film, released in 2024, critically examines the power dynamics between large corporations and the millions of smallholder farmers who cultivate cocoa beans. The narrative highlights how global market prices for raw cocoa are manipulated, often keeping prices artificially low for producers in regions like Côte d'Ivoire. The film features insights from key figures and organizations involved in the cocoa trade, including VOICE Network, Tony's Chocolonely, Chocolatier Ivoirienne, the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), and human rights lawyer Terry Collingsworth. It investigates the mechanisms by which cocoa prices are set and questions the long-term efficacy of recent regulatory measures, such as Côte d'Ivoire's call for a minimum price and the EU's stricter supply chain laws. The documentary raises important questions about fair trade and the economic realities faced by those at the very beginning of the chocolate supply chain, offering a compelling look at a system ripe for reform.