巧克力將消失? 原因竟然是是全球氣候變暖!

Chocolate could reportedly vanish as early as 2050. This revelation has led scientists from the University of California at Berkeley to work with Virginia-based manufacturer Mars Incorporated to save the cacao plant from disappearing.

據報道，巧克力很可能最早在2050年就將絕跡。這個發現致使加州大學伯克利分校和總部位於弗吉尼亞的巧克力製造商瑪氏公司聯手拯救可可樹，以使其免於滅絕。

Warmer temperatures and drier weather conditions are expected to be the root of the cacao plants' potential disappearance.

更高的溫度和更乾燥的氣候條件被認爲是可可樹可能會消失的根源。

New technology, known as CRISPR, is being used by UC Berkeley scientists to modify the DNA of the plants. The crop's tiny seedlings would be able to survive in different climates if the experiment is proven successful.

加州大學伯克利分校的科學家正利用一種叫作CRISPR的新技術改造可可樹的DNA。如果試驗成功，可可樹幼苗將能在不同的氣候下生存。

Mars Incorporated is well aware of these problems and other related issues that climate change poses. This has led the company to make a $1 billion pledge towards reducing its business and supply chain's carbon footprint by more than 60% by 2050, in a plan called "Sustainability in a Generation".

瑪氏公司已警覺到氣候變化帶來的這些以及其他相關問題。該公司承諾，將出資10億美元推動“世代永續”行動，讓旗下事業與供應鏈的碳足跡在2050年前減少逾60%。

Mars' decision to collaborate with UC Berkeley scientists is a part of this initiative.

瑪氏公司決定與加州大學伯克利分校的科學家合作，也是這項計劃的一部分。

"We're trying to go all in here," Barry Parkin, Mars' chief sustainability officer, told Business Insider. "There are obviously commitments the world is leaning into but, frankly, we don't think we're getting there fast enough collectively."

瑪氏公司可持續發展首席行政官巴里·帕金向《商業內幕》透露：“我們正在試圖全力以赴。顯然大家都在期待，但說實話，我們認爲實現這一目標的速度並沒有那麼快。”