Geopolitics in chocolate

Abstract

The subject field of geopolitics covers all areas of international security, including food security. Its provision depends on the production and consumption of several key products. The fact that chocolate is included in their number is explained by its healing properties, known long ago, but received justification in the last century. Chocolate was actively used by the military, travelers. Chocolate was one of the goods that were supplied by Lend-Lease during the Great Patriotic War. This product is associated with an exciting history of its development in the Old World, which began five hundred years ago after the discovery of America. Having obtained the first cocoa beans Spain declared them a strategic product and banned the spread of raw materials and recipes of chocolate abroad. Other European countries have launched a battle for knowledge of producing chocolate. They succeeded in this competition, capturing new territories and markets. A rigid connection was created between the metropolitan countries and the colonies, which divided the roles of consumers of chocolate and producers of raw materials. After the collapse of the colonial empires the regulation of the relations of cocoa market participants entered a new stage. In today's world, there are international organizations seeking to help States improve their agricultural practices, ensure healthy nutrition and food security. Among them are international organizations on primary commodities. Unlike the organizations of hydrocarbon exporters, the International Cocoa Organization unites both producers and consumers of chocolate. The part of the geopolitical struggle was tough advertising for the promotion of national brands of chocolate on the world market. The holding frequency of the international conferences can be explained by the topicality of the problems, discussed by their participants. The agedna includes, first of all, the issues of the quality and the safety of the food products. ICCO developed the recomendations for the healthy rational nutrition taking into consideration the nutritive properties of cocoa and chocolate. The goals of environmental protection, improving the economical and social stability as the result of cultivation of cocoa are becoming the main topics of conversations.