The cocoa sector is facing several serious challenges, such as diseases, climate change and food safety issues, threatening farmer livelihoods and the cocoa supply now and into the future. Breeding of well-adapted cocoa varieties is a key element of sustainable solutions to these challenges.
For the past several years, WCF and the Cocoa Research Association (CRA) have been involved in the ongoing international effort, launched under the auspices of CacaoNet, to assess the current status and prospects for cocoa genetic resources. The publication of the CacaoNet Global Strategy in 2012 underlined the fragile condition of these vitally important collections. As with many things, it comes down to funding: WCF, working with CRA and Bioversity International, has launched a global effort to work with public sector donors, the private sector, and stakeholders from the scientific community to appeal for more investment in the cocoa of the future.