MARS, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and IBM have together unraveled the cocoa genome in a joint research project. The results are publicly available for the common good of cocoa farmers worldwide and to secure a sustainable cocoa supply.

While foodstuffs such as maize or wheat with their significant economic impact on industrial nations have long profited from investments in science, the area of cocoa research has hardly received any attention or support. The identification of the maize and wheat genes made it possible to take specific agricultural properties into account resulting in considerably higher yields.  As cocoa is grown predominantly in countries with very limited budgets for science and research, an identification of the genes has long been neglected, meaning that until now, cocoa has not been able to benefit from such an increase in productivity.

In order to remedy this deficit, Mars Incorporated together with scientific partners such as the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS), IBM and the University of California in Davis, carried out the sequencing and analysis of the cocoa genome and made the results available to the public domain on the internet. The purpose of this research was by no means to genetically modify cocoa trees. In fact, the preliminary cocoa genome sequence is a critical step in advancing the understanding of cocoa plants and to offer cocoa farmers better opportunities so that they can produce higher quality cocoa and grow more robust and resistant cocoa plants that offer higher yields and have an improved water and nutrient absorption.

For approximately 6.5 million farmers – most of them coming from small, family-run plantations - cocoa is a crucial crop both for their survival and the economies of their nations. However, cocoa production is regularly plagued by pests and diseases that can cause serious crop losses of up to 80%. Other adverse effects such as climate change also present cocoa growing regions, e.g. West Africa, with unique challenges. With the preliminary sequencing of the cocoa genome and other research projects, Mars intends to permanently advance growing and breeding conditions for cocoa plants and make a contribution towards securing a sustainable global cocoa supply.

At a Glance

• What is behind the cocoa genome?
  The sequencing and mapping of the cocoa genome can contribute to verifying numerous assumptions about traditional crop growing. This will mean significant improvement for growing and breeding cocoa plants that can help protect millions of people who depend on this plant for their livelihoods.
• Where are the results documented?
  The results of the research are available to the public via the Cacao Genome Database (http://www.cacaogenomedb.org/). This is to ensure that the research results remain perpetually accessible and without patent so that scientists can immediately begin applying the findings to crop cultivation efforts.
• What is the goal of the research cooperation?
  Mars is using this collaboration in public-private partnerships to share know-how that supports cocoa producers.  The public availability of the results enables scientists to work together with farmers around the globe on breeding cocoa trees that are hardier and more resistant to ecological changes. This protects the livelihoods of 6.5 million farmers globally and also the future cocoa supply.
• How will this research cooperation continue?
  The collaboration will continue to analyze and characterize the cocoa genome in preparation for submission to peer-reviewed publications and make a lasting contribution in the area of cocoa research.
• How does climate change affect cocoa cultivation?
  Climate change is also causing shifts in precipitation patterns, and over the last 45 years an increase in dry periods has been observed. Therefore, cocoa farmers have to water their cultivated land more often in order to counter losses in crop yields.  One of our goals is to breed plants that are more drought-resistant by identifying the genes and thus permanently reducing irrigation, i.e. saving water.