World Cocoa Foundation Research Update: March 2007
Robert D. Lumsden, Plant Pathologist and WCF Scientific Advisor
RESEARCH GROUPS:
From Christopher Vaughan, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Department of Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin/Madison, Wisconsin 53706, and Allen Young, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. www.wildlife.wisc.edu/faculty/vaughan/main.htm. “Attached is a summary of the USDA cacao project, Milwaukee Public Museum and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We have collaborators from the University of Costa Rica and the Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica). Theobroma cacao: Biodiversity in Full and Partial Canopy (Wisconsin-Costa Rican Cocoa Initiative),”
This innovative project is coordinated by the Milwaukee Public Museum with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has U.S. Department of Agriculture financial support (project #58-1275-2-026). Its overall objectives are to: a) to explore the effects of shade canopy type and composition on the incipient biodiversity and productivity of different Theobroma cacao systems, either active or abandoned, with emphasis upon the herbivorous species, pollinators, fungal microflora, pathogens, insectivores, other vertebrates and insect populations; and b) to focus upon the restoration of abandoned cacao and develop a regional infrastructure for commercialization and marketing of agroforestry cacao products through small grower cooperatives and organizations. The University of Costa Rica (Agronomy School) and the Universidad Nacional (International Institute for Wildlife Management and Conservation and Forestry Institute) are local counterparts for the project. Activities have been organized in eight categories under the two major thematic areas of a) biodiversity and productivity research projects and b) restoration of farms, commercialization and marketing. Below we summarize each thematic area
Biodiversity and Productivity Research Projects have focused on the following:
- assessment of biodiversity on cacao farms - based on preliminary biodiversity inventories of cacao farms, we have studied ecological interactions of birds, lizards, sloths, spiders, butterflies and bats in cacao agroecosystems. Results of these studies are either being analyzed, written, submitted, in press or published in the following journals: Biodiversity and Conservation, Applied Herpetology, Agroforestry Systems, and the International Journal of Tropical Biology;
- shade management and biodiversity - data on variability of light (and shade) provided a basis for on-going research on the impact of different shade regimes on arachnid diversity in cacao agroecosystems. Data are being analyzed regarding the distribution and pattern of light and shade for different forest canopies and their impact on productivity and biodiversity;
- introduction of ‘disease tolerant’ germplasm distributed by CATIE onto small farms - an evaluation of clonal performance for disease tolerance and productivity of the 400+ grafts was initiated and is on-going;
- pollinator abundance experiments will determine effective means of quantifying pollinator abundance in plots in Upala treated with midge breeding substrate (Musa pseudostem pieces) compared to plots without this material; and
- applied research, extension, environmental education, management, monitoring and conservation in cacao ecosystems – we have brought together various groups of cacao farmers, buyers and several chocolatiers to enhance productivity and biodiversity conservation using applied research, education and marketing.
Restoration of Farms, Commercialization and Marketing:
- analysis and improvement of management practices – several biocontrol treatments showed promise in reducing disease incidence on cacao pods, together with sanitation and other management practices and we are currently preparing a “model” cacao farm in the Upala region of Costa Rica as a demonstration area of good sanitation and management practices;
- development of local infrastructure for commercialization and marketing of cocoa products via small grower cooperatives and organizations - We have assisted in developing a Costa Rican women’s chocolate cooperative, which sells organic chocolate bars locally and internationally; and
- rehabilitation of abandoned cacao - workshops to over 62 small Costa Rican cacao growers using hands-on demonstrations of pruning and sanitation practices, organic fertilization, harvest and post-harvest processing (fermentation), and other cacao management and rehabilitation practices. In addition, we assisted a local cacao cooperative in developing a strategic management plan that included mapping over 30 cacao farms. For the next several years, we will work on developing and refining our objectives in the Upala region of Costa Rica, where over 80 cacao farmers still cultivate the crop.
Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Sustainable Tree Crops Laboratory. Prakash Hebbar Mars/USDA concluded February’s Training Session for scientists working on Cocoa Pod Borer and setting up of a CPB IPM network with a seminar session held on March 1st, at the USDA-Foreign Agriculture Service, Independence Avenue, Washington, DC. The seminar by Cochran Fellows from Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea: Pests of Cocoa in Asia and its Impact on Small-holder Farms and Estate Crops followed an introduction: A Public Private Partnership in Pest and Disease Management – Prakash Hebbar (Prakash.Hebbar@effem.com), Mars Inc. and Francisco Posada-USDA-ARS.
Cochran Fellows:
1) Research & Extension at Indonesian Cocoa and Coffee Research Center – Endang Sulistyowati: ICCRI Jember (Ag. Ministry) and Soekadar Wiryadiputra: ICCRI Jember (Ag. Ministry), Java, Indonesia.
2) Research at Hassanuddin University & impact of Cocoa Pests on Small farmers: Ade Rosmana: and Sylvia Sjam: Hassanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia.
3) Pest Management in Cocoa Estates, LONDON Sumatra Estate: Ike Virdiana, London Sumatra (LONSUM), Sumatra, Indonesia
4) R&D On Cocoa Pod Borer By Malaysian Cocoa Board: Navies Maisin, Malaysian Cocoa Board, Sabah, Malaysia
5) Eradication Efforts of Cocoa Pod Borer in PNG – Paul Gende, Cocoa & Coconut Institute, Papua New Guinea, (Funded by Mars Inc.)
Prakash Hebbar also reported on his participation in a Symposium on March 21, 2007 -- “Outstanding Collaborations Between Basic and Applied Plant Pathology”. His work on Integrated Pest Management and biological control of cacao fungal diseases, especially the work in Brazil on the application of Trichoderma stromaticum as a biocontrol in the field was highlighted. The symposium was part of the Potomac Division of The American Phytopathological Society meeting at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Also, Dr. Jean Ristaino, Professor Plant Pathology, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, presented a seminar at USDA-ARS, BARC-West, Beltsville, MD on the 15th of March on "An Andean origin of Phytophthora infestans inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear gene genealogies". This presentation was published recently in full in the Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC available at: http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/104/9/3306.
RESEARCH RESULTS FROM THE INTERNET: From BBC News: Mars battles against cocoa pest. Confectionery giant Mars is fighting a battle against a tiny moth … causing major concern in Asia where about 17% of the world's cocoa is produced. Go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/business/5254410.stm.
From Associated Press, by Libby Quaid, Monday, March 5, 2007, Washington, DC. “Chocolate lovers develop taste for distinctive flavor, or Call it chocolate with a pedigree: Go to: http://www.redding.com/news/2007/mar/05/chocolate-lovers-develop-taste-for-distinctive/
From NutraIngredients, USA: Breaking News on Supplements & Nutrition - North America, New review may demand flavonoid rethink. By Stephen Daniells 3/6/2007- Flavonoids from fruits and vegetables are not potent antioxidants when eaten but may still have significant benefits by other mechanisms, says a new review of the science. Go to: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/printNewsBis.asp?id=74738
From NutraIngredients, USA: 3/7/2007 - Smokers should be encouraged to indulge their sweet tooth, judging from the results of a new study into how daily consumption of a specially-prepared cocoa beverage benefits blood vessel function. By Catherine Boal 3/7/2007- The research, published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, monitored a group of 11 healthy male smokers who consumed three doses a day of a flavanol-rich cocoa drink provided by confectionery giant Mars. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology 2007, Volume 49(2), Pages 74-80. "Sustained Increase in Flow-Mediated Dilation After Daily Intake of High-Flavanol Cocoa Drink Over 1 Week."Authors: C. Heiss, D. Finis, P. Kleinbongard, A. Hoffman, T. Rassaf, M. Kelm, H. Sies.
http://www.nutraingredientsusa.com/news/ng.asp?n=74778&m=1NIU307&c=bqmgjdbpkcgzlmu.