The global chocolate industry may be on the verge of a major shift as lab-grown chocolate is expected to reach commercial shelves by 2027, according to multiple food technology reports and industry developments. Companies including biotech startup California Cultured and ingredient manufacturer Puratos are leading efforts to develop chocolate made from cultured cocoa cells grown in controlled laboratory environments instead of traditional cacao farming. How Lab-Grown Chocolate Works Unlike conventional chocolate, which is produced from cacao beans grown on trees in tropical regions, lab-grown chocolate begins with cocoa plant cells. These cells are cultivated in bioreactors under controlled conditions, where …