Intelligent cocoa: a systematic review of artificial intelligence applications in the cocoa supply chain

Purpose - This study aims to provide a systematic and interdisciplinary review of the current applications of artificial intelligence (AI) across the cocoa supply chain, with a specific focus on the integration of technological and social dimensions. Design/methodology/approach - The analysis is based on a structured literature review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Sources were retrieved from the Scopus database using targeted queries and selected through clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The contributions were thematically coded according to a functional classification of cocoa supply chain phases, allowing for the identification of both technological use cases and their social implications. Findings - The results show that AI applications in the cocoa sector are rapidly evolving, especially in crop monitoring, disease detection, smart irrigation, post-harvest quality control, and traceability. The adoption of lightweight, interpretable AI models on low-cost devices is enabling the inclusion of smallholder farmers. Moreover, AI acts as both a decision-support tool and a driver of organizational transformation, fostering data-driven practices and ethical transparency within agri-food networks. Research limitations/implications - The emergent and heterogeneous nature of the literature limits the comparability of results and the assessment of real-world impact. Future research should explore the longitudinal effectiveness and scalability of AI in operational environments, with greater attention to contextual barriers such as infrastructure, skills, and governance. Originality/value - This is the first review to systemically map AI applications across all phases of the cocoa supply chain while also integrating socio-technical considerations. The study offers practical insights for technology developers, policymakers, and agri-food stakeholders aiming to promote ethical and sustainable digital transformation in global food systems.