World Cocoa Foundation Research Update: February 2008
Robert D. Lumsden, Plant Pathologist and WCF Scientific Advisor
RESEARCH GROUPS:
From Wilbert Phillips wphillip@catie.ac.cr, CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica. REPORT OF THE CATIE/WCF PROJECT (July - December 2007). “Selection and generation of moniliasis-resistant cacao genotypes and maintenance and conservation of the International Cacao Collection.
BREEDING ACTIVITIES One of the most outstanding breeding activities carried out in 2007 was the establishment of two clonal gardens containing strategic germplasm, one in Turrialba, Costa Rica and the other in FHIA, Honduras. Each clonal garden comprises 6 clones selected by CATIE for distribution to farmers in Central America (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize), and 20 advanced breeding materials (selections) for testing in a regional network of multi-locational trials. A multi-locational trial of one hectare will be established in each country as well. This is part of a joint effort between CATIE, NORAD and different regional and national institutions and farmer organizations to improve cacao production in Central America. CATIE´s breeding program plays a strategic role within this regional project through providing superior germplasm that has been selected and/or developed during the last 20 years. These elite planting materials can now be used to replace the low-yielding and moniliasis-susceptible materials commonly present in this region.
Another important activity carried out during the second semester of 2007 was the production of 17 new crosses among superior CATIE selections for their establishment in a new field trial in 2008. The plants are currently in the nursery and the field area is being prepared for planting in June 2008. This activity is part of a breeding strategy to generate superior (elite) cultivars (with a particular combination of traits of economic interest such as high-yield, high industrial quality, resistance to major diseases, precocity, self-compatibility, etc.) by making specific crosses between previously selected outstanding materials.
The reaction to moniliasis, caused by Moniliophthora roreri, and black pod, caused by Phytophthora palmivora, was tested from July to December 2007 in eleven and fourteen artificial inoculation events for 30 and 46 clones, respectively, in the International Cacao Collection (IC3).
Two new sources of resistance to moniliasis were identified (clones Nal-1 A4 and SC-24), an important finding considering the small number of such clones identified internationally. Four other clones were also identified as moderately resistant. The following 8 clones were found to show intermediate resistance to black pod disease: Amelonado 22, ARF-2, C 15161, EEG-65, GU-133-N, ICS-55, LAFI-7, NAL-2-A19.
GERMPLAM CONSERVATION AND USE ACTIVITIES Maintenance and improvement of the International Cacao Collection-CATIE (IC3) included increase in the collection area by 1.5 ha in Turrialba in 2007. This means that IC3 currently comprises 17.5 ha distributed in two locations in Turrialba and in La Lola Farm. The new area in Turrialba was cleaned and banana and immortelle trees were planted as temporary and permanent shade, respectively. One hundred and forty-three new clones were established in the field in 2007 after having remained in the nursery or under quarantine conditions for 4-12 months.
GERMPLASM INTRODUCTION An intensive introduction of strategic germplasm has been carried out from different sources during the last five years as part of CATIE´s effort to enrich the genetic diversity of IC3. In 2007, 80 clones of T. cacao and three related species were introduced from FHIA and the University of Reading. Emphasis has been placed on the introduction of accessions originally collected from the wild. CATIE now has 1,070 accessions in the collection.
GERMPLASM TRANSFERRED FROM CATIE TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS A significant number of clones were transferred to several institutions, companies or private farmers during the period July-January 2007. Resistant clones to moniliasis (budwood and flowers) were provided to the Intermediate Quarantine Station at Reading, UK and to INIFAP in Mexico. Vegetative material for different studies was supplied to ARS/USDA (Miami and Beltsville) and to NESTLE (Tours, France).
From V.C. Baligar vc.baligar@ars.usda.gov, Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory (SPCL), USDA/ARS, Beltsville, Maryland. On January 30, 2008, Mr. Edward Millard, Senior Manager, Sustainable Landscapes, Sustainable Agriculture Division, Rainforest Alliance, New York, NY, visited SPCL lab and held discussions with scientists on the Rainfall Alliance activities in cocoa sector and gave a talk on “Using a certification approach to achieve sustainable agriculture.”
NEWS ON THE INTERNET: From NutraIngredients.usa.com.
Cadbury to protect Ghanaian chocolate production. By Charlotte Eyre. 1/28/2008- Cadbury today launched a fund to aid its cocoasuppliers inGhana, after research suggested that average production in the region is now 40 per cent lower than the potential yield. The Cadbury Cocoa Partnership, established with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is aimed at helping farmers increaseproduction and improve the quality of the beans. The decisionwas made after research, funded by the company, showed that the production of some cocoa farms in Ghana is only four to six sacks per year, the company said. With western confectionery companies being under pressure from high commodity costs, Cadbury is aware that protecting supply is vital in order to keep margins high. The company is also under pressure to improve profits from shareholders,after receivinglast December a threatening letter from investment fund Trian. Trian, which is led by active investor Nelson Peltz, threatened to take matters out of management's hands if Cadbury did not make a raft of improvements to its operations. Matt Shattock, President of the BIMA division (Britain, Ireland, the Middle East and Africa) confirmed in a statement that protecting the African supply chain made good business sense. "Sustainable cocoa production is vital to Cadbury's commercial success: not simply the supply of our most important ingredient, but guaranteeing a reliable, long term source of the right quality cocoa, produced to the high standards our business, customers and our consumers expect," he said. Full article.
Fine and flavour cocoa export market grows By Laura Crowley. 2/5/2008- A panel of experts recommendthatmore countries be recognised as fine or flavour cocoa producing countries in order to providenew opportunities for trade. The suggestions were put forward by industry experts during a review of the International Cocoa Agreement, 2001, which recognises 17 countries as producers of either exclusively or partially fine or flavour cocoa. The aim of this agreement is to promote international cooperation in the world economy, to provide an appropriate framework for discussing related issues, and to contribute to strengthening the national cocoa economies of member countries. Last month, an Ad hoc panel of experts on fine or flavour cocoa met in London to draw new conclusions on those countries exporting cocoa. The most important recommendations made by the panel were:
1) For the first time, the Dominican Republic was recognised as a fine or flavour cocoa producing country, with a recommended share of 40 per cent of exports.
2)Following a decrease to 25 per cent in 2005, Papua New Guinea's share was reinstated to 75 per cent of fine and flavour cocoa exports. This is the same level it was at in 1993.
3) Ecuador maintained its 74 per cent share of fine or flavour cocoa exports.
4) Trinidad and Tobago maintained its 100 per cent share.
The International Cocoa Council will decide on the recommendations at its 77th regular session in May.
Full article.
Mars, Nestle promise ethical cocoa supply. By Charlotte Eyre 2/7/2008- Global confectioners Mars and Nestle have joined a sustainable cocoa programme, which aims to establish a traceability system for all farmers in the Ivory Coast. The Good Inside Cocoa Programme, established by the Dutch non-profit organisation Utz Certified, aims to eliminate environmental and humanitarian problems such as child labour, deforestation and low salaries. As consumer and regulatory concern over working conditions in Africa increases, manufacturers can no longer ignore the responsibility they have towards some of the poorest workers in the world. However, Utz Certified project manager Daan de Vries told ConfectioneryNews.com that the programme will have practical implications as well. "We will consider issues such as market supply, health and safety - all the factors necessary for cocoa trading," he said. Full article.
Ghana pledges sustainable cocoa push – report. By Neil Merrett 2/19/2008- The Ghanaian cocoa board is planning to significantly step up cocoa production in the country over the next three years in a nationwide shake-up of how the crop is farmed, according to press reports. Board deputy chief executive Charles Bernard Ntim said that a new program of crop husbandry schemes was being implemented in a move expected to lift output to 1m tonnes, the Dow Jones Newswires service reported Friday. Some leading confectioners, particularly those operating in Europe and the US, are particularly reliant on cocoa coming from Ghana and other African producers, as worldwide supply of the crop struggles to meet demand. Ntim was speaking last week at the 5th African Fine Coffee Conference in Kampala, Uganda, stating that that a number of schemes were currently being put in place, the report said. The programs are expected to include supplying improved planting materials to farmers, using fertilisers to improve soil fertility and replanting schemes in the country. According to the ICCO, African countries now provide about 70 percent of the world's cocoa, up from 61 per cent in the mid-1990s, with Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana cultivating the lion's share. Together the two countries account for65 percent of global net exports. Full article.
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