By 2020, the world as we know it might come to an end.
Chocolate giants Mars, Inc. and Barry Callebaut have announced that, while candy bars will still be present in our lives, the taste of the chocolate may be completely different.
Why?
Experts say climate change is decreasing the world’s supply of cocoa beans as more and more people discover the goodness of chocolate every day.
To address the unsustainable chocolate production model, scientists are working to create a tree that produces more cocoa beans. Unfortunately the synthesized product from these trees is expected to produce less flavorful chocolate.
To prepare us and future generations for this imminent change, I have developed a list of ways to cope with the decline of chocolate.
1. Don’t wait until tomorrow to buy the chocolate you could eat today.
In 2013, the demand for cocoa exceeded the amount of cocoa produced by 70,000 metric tons and, according to The Washington Post, this number is expected to increase to 1 million metric tons by 2020.
Instead of worrying about it now, why not just enjoy real chocolate while it lasts?
Go to Winn-Dixie and buy that Snickers bar you always see at the checkout line but normally refuse to purchase because your grandmother told you to watch your weight last time she came to visit.
Chocolate will be gross in a few years anyway, so eat as much as you can while you can.
2. Replace chocolate with another addictive food product.
Although chocolate is the most beloved product of the candy variety, the spectrum has never been more diverse than it is now.
Gummies, taffies, sour candies and more options are all available at the On The Geaux establishment in the Student Union.
Right next to the candy is the salad bar, where you can stand in line and play a game of “make your own salad,” if you want to use chocolate’s decline as an excuse to turn your life around and start eating healthy.
But I’d just buy some French fries and get addicted. Cocoa beans may disappear over time, but potatoes aren’t going anywhere.
3. Deal with your feelings with exercise rather than by eating chocolate.
How many times have you resorted to eating chocolate or chocolate-based products to feel better?
When we’re upset, we like to drown our sorrows in candy because it makes us happy.
Chocolate increases our endorphins — hormones that cheer us up — but exercise has been proven to release more endorphins than the sweet snack.
Because chocolate is about to change in front of our eyes why not let it go and save us the heartache in a few years while getting in shape in the process?
4. Buy as much chocolate as you can.
Angus Kennedy, the editor of Kennedy’s Confection magazine, said with the upcoming shortage of cocoa beans, “Cocoa could be the new gold!”
So wouldn’t it be a smart business endeavor to buy as much of the chocolate products as you can and then have all the power?
Obviously you would keep some of the supply for yourself, but you could sell the rest to the unfortunate people who didn’t get to Wal-Mart in time before the fake chocolate-covered pretzels hit the stocks.
Not only will you have the chocolate you desire, but also you will have what will most likely become the new form of currency in this new post-cocoa civilization.
At least until the chocolate expires.
All great eras must come to an end.
Our greatest challenge is to move forward and embrace whatever comes next. So enjoy your chocolate while you can, because everything is about to change.
Jose Bastidas is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Caracas, Venezuela. You can reach him on twitter @jabastidas.