In Search of Cocoa’s Genome

Recently, Mars, Inc., one of the largest privately held confections manufacturers in the US, The U.S. Department of Agriculture and IBM joined forces to map the DNA sequence of the cocoa tree.

Due to an increase in global demand, the fragile nature of the cocoa tree and the ferocious appetite of fungal diseases, such as Witches Broom and Frosty Pod Rot, weakening or eliminating various cocoa tree strains, cocoa has become the new “Gold”. Cocoa, the foundation of a $5 billion dollar chocolate industry, is currently trading on the stock exchange at a 28-year high. To quench a world-wide thirst for chocolate, a task force was formed consisting of $10 million in funding, advanced technology, scientists and agriculturalists to identify the cocoa tree’s DNA sequence to improve overall cocoa quality and create healthier crops with higher yields.

With the establishment of a research facility in Davao City, the largest city located on the Philippine island of Mindanao, and the use of a 24-hectare (59.31 acres) cocoa plantation located within the Malagos Garden Resort, the Philippines is designated ground zero for this research project. Currently ranked eighteen in global cocoa production, the Philippines is looking to increase their footing in the cocoa industry. Over the next five years, the task forces hopes to safeguard for the world’s cocoa production as well as assist in eliminating the tree’s estimated $700 million annual expenses due to fungal disease infestation.