Archive: Is there life on Mars?

The price of chocolate risks sky-rocketing, thanks to a plague of moths at cocoa plantations in Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua-New Guinea. The insect, if moths are insects, caused about $20 million damage in Indonesia in 1998. The so-called cocoa pod borer moth is thought to attack the plant by erm boring into the cocoa pod.

A delegation from Mars, the chocolate company not the planet, is to visit Papua-New Guinea to assess the threat. Meanwhile scientists are looking at ways to combat the moth plague by screwing with their pheromones, which are basically what romantic moths send each other in the absence in the culture of flowers and, yes, chocolate.

Cocoa futures dropped 16 percent at the Liffe exchange in London, after putting on 18% in July. Act on investment advice from MCN at your own risk. Values may fall as well as plummet.