World Cocoa Foundation Research Update: October 2007
Robert D. Lumsden, Plant Pathologist and WCF Scientific Advisor
WORLD COCOA FOUNDATION (WCF): WCF held the 12th (twice yearly) Partnership Meeting at the Washington, DC Westin Hotel October 24-25, 2007, including a Research Priority Roundtable Discussion on Friday the 26th.
Three events were especially relevant to cacao research.
First event was the Press Release, October 24, 2007. Bill Guyton Bill.Guyton@worldcocoa.org announced that the “World Cocoa Foundation was selected by the USDA as partner for the prestigious Norman E. Borlaug Fellows Program. African and Central American scientists will be mentored in the United States to help strengthen sustainable agricultural practices.” Named in honor of distinguished U.S. agronomist Norman E. Borlaug – one of only five recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal – the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program was established by USDA in 2004 to help developing countries strengthen agricultural practices through the transfer of science and technologies. “Building the capacity of producing country research institutes is essential to ensuring farmers have a local resource to turn to for issues of importance to them,” said Bill Guyton, president, World Cocoa Foundation. “The Borlaug Fellowship is a great opportunity for scientists in the cocoa field to refine technical skills or collaborate on a research project while building networks with other researchers and learning about the supply chain. We at the World Cocoa Foundation are very pleased that USDA has made this commitment to the cocoa sector.” Jointly selected by WCF and the USDA, the Borlaug Fellows — seven scientists from nations eligible under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and four from nations of the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement — will be chosen to participate. Training will focus on three areas including: (1). Genetic improvement using local and internationally superior cacao germplasm; (2). Loss reduction through integrated pest management and agroforestry management; and (3). Quality improvement through better post-harvest management and selection of quality characteristics.
WCF will place fellows within American universities and/or research institutions. In order that visiting scientists be exposed to the entire cocoa supply chain, fellows will also have the opportunity to visit WCF member companies’ manufacturing plants and/or research facilities during their six-week training. Information regarding the application process will be provided in future Research Updates. For more information about the World Cocoa Foundation, or to find out how you can help support cocoa farming communities, contact Bill Guyton at (703) 790-5012 or via e-mail at Bill.Guyton@worldcocoa.org . Also, visit the WCF online at: www.WorldCocoaFoundation.org.
Second Event of interest to cacao researchers was a featured session on “Strengthening Fundamental and Applied Research Efforts in the Cocoa Sector”, chaired by Lyndel Meinhardt, USDA/ARS, Beltsville, Maryland. The panel of speakers were:
Yaw Adu-Ampomah, Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, discussed the issues needing attention in West Africa, relating to low yield (400kg/ha); poor and unproductive soils; diseases and pests, including black pod, swollen shoot virus, and mirids; increased periods of drought; poor quality, including small beans and less than ideal fermentation; environmental issues – loss of forests, fauna and flora; and the danger of introducing new diseases and pests.
Eric Rosenquist, USDA/ARS, National Program Leader for Tropical Crops, pointed out that about $5.7 million in US public funds supports research of this crop considered “minor” – similar to other crops such as potato, apple, etc. The largest strategic threat to cocoa production is frosty pod rot now in Latin America and the danger of it spreading to Brazil, West Africa, and beyond. The US Department of State has assisted in improving cacao cultivation in Latin America. Still, black pod rot is the largest persistent threat to production worldwide. A narrow gene pool contributes to the problem. Genetic reserves are of worldwide concern. There is not CGIAR system as for other crops for cacao. However, CacaoNet, lead Bioversity will establish a system for a virtual international collection, built upon the International Cacao Collections at CATIE in Costa Rica, and CRU in Trinidad, along with a cacao information database, will address this concern.
Martin Gilmour, Mars Inc. and chair of WCF Research Committee, stated, “research underpins sustainability.” Worldwide the commitment to research is about $40 million, but which is spread over about 30 centers involved in research. More information is needed concerning frosty pod rot that is considered the largest threat unless it is contained. Witches’ broom requires selection of better germplasm. A third major concern is cocoa pod borer, which has a strong research network that, is investigating use of biopesticides and pheromones for management, which might also be used for mirids. Other concerns are swollen shoot virus, dieback and stem borers. Black pod is more manageable than other problems. Residues and pesticide use are concerns because of safety and overuse, and alternatives are needed. New European legislation will require changes. Other issues are concern for genetic resources, soil fertility and productivity. WCF should and will play an increase role in improving cocoa production.
Stephan Weise, IITA/Sustainable Tree Crops Program – Africa, challenged the cocoa sector to review the overall research culture. The greatest threats are low income of farmers, stagnation of productivity especially in Africa where 50% of farmers produce less than 300kg/ha and sell 3 or 4 bags/year with unorganized marketing systems. There is low incentive for young people to go into cocoa production. A more ‘commerial’ cocoa is needed to enhance productivity, diversify income, improve market efficiency, innovate policies and create an institutional environment. Improvements are needed in planting material, soil fertility, agroforestry and other complementary systems such as rural enterprises, and extending innovations to the farmer. The way forward is promoting regional and international innovation packages for based on FIT – Financial/Institutional/Technical, a research and development continuum.
The four speakers concurred in selection of three priority issues (with variation of wording) facing cocoa production as:
I. Capacity building, regional cooperation, and technology transfer (based on the above FIT)
II. Control of diseases and pests, especially frosty pod rot and black pod, and develop IPM.
III. Improve genetic resources and collections, and soil fertility.
Third Event was a half-day Roundtable Discussion organized by Lyndel Meinhardt, USDA, Beltsville on Priority Cacao Research, held on Friday, October 26. This session was organized as a result of a WCF/Industry Survey sent to foundation members prior to the Partnership Meeting. There were over 45 attendees from government, industry, universities and non-government agencies. The session was moderated by Martin Gilmour, Mars Inc. Brief presentations by key speakers were given on Cacao Breeding, Cacao Conservation, Pathogens/Pests/Biocontrol, and Best Practices and Soil Fertility, all with active discussion and questions from the participants. The discussion came to an end as the time for this 3 ½ hour session ran out. There was not time to continue other issues brought out by the WCF Research Survey such as post harvest concerns, product quality and flavor characteristics. It was concluded that this type of forum should be repeated at future WCF Partnership meetings and that more time should be allotted to this session. Conclusions and recommendations from the WCF/Industry Survey, the earlier special session on “Strengthening Fundamental and Applied Research Efforts in the Cocoa Sector”, and the Roundtable Discussion will be summarized and distributed at a later date.
RESEARCH GROUPS: From Dapeng Zhang (Dapeng.zhang@ars.usda/gov), Sustainable Perennial Crops Lab, Beltsville, Maryland: A new proposal entitled “Using native cacao varieties to reduce poverty and conserve globally important biodiversity in Northern Ecuador” was funded by CGIAR. This proposal was jointly submitted by Bioversity International and “Conservacion y Desarrollo” - an Ecuadorian NGO, INIAP. USDA/SPCL will support this project with DNA fingerprinting of the traditional varieties in Northern Ecuador.Wilbert Phillips, C.A.T.I.E., Turrialba, Costa Rica, was awarded the Costa Rican National Award of Science, by The Ministry of Science and Technology, for his studies on Moniliophthora roreri and frosty pod rot (moniliasis), including discovery of clones of cacao with resistance. Congratulations Wilbert!
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