Sustaining interest in cocoa
A new initiative for sustainable cocoa production aims to have a 'sustainable and geographically diverse supply of cocoa within ten years.' This collaborative effort is essential not only to support production for the majority of cocoa growers - (who are small-scale farmers) - but also to ensure an adequate supply of cocoa beans of consistent quality for the cocoa industry.
The worldwide chocolate industry launched the Sustainable Cocoa Program in 1998 to develop a comprehensive and integrated approach to cocoa research. The aim is to involve and co-ordinate activities of all those with an interest in cocoa, from growers, researchers, aid and conservation agencies and the cocoa industry itself. To help achieve this the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), supported by Mars Inc., held the first international conference on "Sustainable Cocoa Growing" in Panama during March 1998. Key scientists conducting research on cocoa sustainability were brought together for the first time to:
- establish successful approaches and technologies used in cocoa growing; and
- to identify the problems that needed to be addressed in future integrated research programs.
Sustainability is always difficult to define but a major outcome of the workshop was a Consensus Statement that validated the importance of cocoa in a sustainable ecological system. This included the importance of integration of plant species in cocoa production to maintain biodiversity (see Investing in intercropping) and the judicious use of IPM strategies (see New combat strategies for cocoa) whilst supporting the particular needs of small-scale farmers.
The key areas of research identified by the conference are to be grouped into five areas; the objectives of which are summarised as:
Agro-ecology
To determine the basic ecological mechanisms that will help develop cocoa agriculture to enhance
on-farm biodiversity and preserve tropical forest ecosystems.
New Plantings
To introduce smallholder cocoa agriculture into three new or previously dormant regions e.g. in
Vietnam, Peru, and Panama.
Smallholder economics
To develop low cost and low input production techniques/technologies to improve smallholder income
(to include yield quality, collection marketing and credit). This will include collecting
indigenous knowledge, developing and testing farmer participatory models and improving post-harvest
handling techniques.
Pest and Disease Control
To develop IPM strategies to increase small farm productivity - with the goal of increasing global
cocoa yields by 50% (see New combat strategies for cocoa).
Breeding
To establish a global coordinated breeding programme for improving yield and disease resistance in
cocoa cultivars. This will include germplasm screening, modern breeding techniques and distribution
(see Cocoa germplasm: an invaluable resource).
Further information on the Sustainable Cocoa Program is available at http://www.si.edu/smbc/cacao.htm.
