CABI and cocoaCABI works throughout the cocoa chain with our many partners including: producers, national agricultural research institutes from producing countries, traders, manufacturers and policy makers.

Diagnosing pest and disease problems in the field, conducting applied research to enhance existing management practices, developing and communicating best practice to farmers and extensionists, as well as advising on trade and quarantine policy issues – just a few examples of the work we do on commodity crops to improve farmer’s livelihoods and commodity sustainability.

2.5 million smallholder farmers grow cocoa.

Demand is growing at 2-3% per year.

Future sustainability of supply – from environmental, social and economic perspectives – is vital to producers, consumers and the cocoa industry as a whole.

The impacts of our work to date include:

• building of expertise and capacity in cocoa producing countries

• improving on-farm practices through enhanced farmer understanding of alternative, ecologically sound agronomic methods and better ways of using pesticides

• helping cocoa producing regions to understand quarantine issues more fully and be able to respond to them

• increased cocoa yields and returns to farmers, traders and ultimately national economies, leading to improved livelihoods

• improving communication on cocoa-related issues through global dissemination of our books, videos and newsletters.

We have over 150 combined years of experience in working with cocoa – helping smallholder cocoa growers compete in global markets.

KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE

With thanks to our partners and donors who include:

Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigacion y Enseñanza (CATIE, Costa Rica)

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS, USA)

Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG, Ghana)

The UK Department for International Development (DfID, UK)

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR, Australia)

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO, UK)

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC, Fiji)

Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit (LNV, Netherlands)

The European Cocoa Association (ECA, Belgium)

Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of the EU (CAOBISCO, Belgium)

Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD, Cameroon)

Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA, Côte d’Ivoire)

Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN, Nigeria)

Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute (ICCRI, Indonesia)

National Confectioners Association (NCA, USA)

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO, Australia)

Mars Asia Pacific, Australia

Theobroma cacao: ‘food of the Gods’

Contact:

Julie Flood, Global Director Commodities, CABI, Bakeham Lane, Egham, Surrey, TW209TY, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1491 829043 Email: j.flood@cabi.org

www.cabi.org

KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFEwww.cabi.org

Cocoa pods developing on a tree Tasty products of cocoa

Mirid damage on mature cocoa pods Delivery of cocoa to a trader’s warehouse

Sun drying of beans on a farmHarvesting cocoaFrosty Pod rot symptoms Cocoa farmer with pesticide application equipmentCocoa mirid (Helopeltis sp.), a major insect pest

case study: Controlling Frosty Pod Rot

Frosty Pod Rot caused by Moniliophthora roreri is one of the two major diseases

of cocoa in Latin America. On a global scale, Frosty Pod Rot currently only

accounts for around 5% of total annual losses but where Frosty Pod Rot is

present it quickly becomes the most destructive,overtaking other diseases such

as witches’ broom and black pod. 80% pod loss is common and in some cases

losses can reach 100%. Frosty Pod Rot poses an immediate and real threat to

cocoa production in Brazil and Bolivia as well as in the Caribbean.

Conventional control methods which are often labour intensive and difficult

to implement have failed to halt the progress of Frosty Pod Rot and have led

to a search for alternative control strategies. CABI and partners have been

investigating the use of coevolved fungal endophytes, such as Trichoderma spp.

as potential biocontrol agents to control Moniliophthora roreri.

Fungal endophytes isolated from cocoa and its relatives in Ecuador were

screened using laboratory methods and small-scale field trials to assess

their mycoparasitic activity towards M. roreri and their ability to colonise

cocoa seedlings and pods. Based on these results two of the most promising

isolates, Trichoderma ovalisporum and T. harzianum, were selected for large-

scale field trials to develop appropriate formulation and application methods

for biocontrol agents and assess their potential for use in an integrated

management system for Frosty Pot Rot. Results so far are encouraging; the

biocontrol control was as effective as chemical controls in increasing the

number of healthy pods and reducing the incidence of Frosty Pod Rot. It has

also been shown that improving the formulation of the biocontrol agents can

increase its performance beyond those of chemical controls.

case study: Cocoa Pod BorerConopomorpha cramerella – or the cocoa pod borer moth – lays its eggs on cocoa pods. When the larvae hatch they bore into the growing cocoa pods damaging the placenta and the cocoa beans don’t develop properly and bean fermentation is subsequently affected. Due to its prolific breeding rate, this innocuous looking insect is difficult to manage and is now one of the most serious threats to the cocoa industry in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.It is now generally accepted that eradication is not an option but using eco-rational techniques to manage and control it is the best way forward.The current project aims to help farmers manage the cocoa pod borer effectively. CABI’s role is to help develop effective techniques to detect and manage infestations. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) involves using a variety of management strategies. By encouraging natural enemies and improving sanitation in the growing area the need for harmful chemical pesticides will be reduced, thereby safeguarding farmers’ health and the environment. A training programme was developed so cocoa farmers can learn about cocoa pests and diseases, and importantly, how to implement the resource-matched management and surveillance programmes to help protect their crop.

case study: Pesticides and safer cocoaA range of pests and diseases, including pod rots, cocoa mirids (capsids) and

pod borer, can be highly destructive and cause considerable reductions in yield

and quality of cocoa beans. As a result producers worldwide turn to chemical

pesticides, but these constitute a significant financial cost and present a risk to

the farmer, local community and environment if not used appropriately. There

is also public concern over pesticide contamination of foodstuffs; coupled with

increasingly stringent regulations imposed by cocoa importing countries. CABI

is working with producing countries in Africa and Asia as well as the importing

cocoa industries to assess the supply and use of pesticides throughout the in-

country supply chain as a basis for making future improvements.Through this work it has been possible to determine which pesticides are

being used, how and from where they are supplied, the reasoning behind their

use and the manner in which they are used. Health and safety implications

have also been analysed. Based on this information, training and other

awareness raising activities are being designed and implemented to promote

better pesticide practice within the cocoa community. As a consequence,

cocoa stakeholders are becoming better informed and better equipped to

select and use pesticides in a more rational and a more responsible manner.

This will lead to safer and more sustainable production of beans that meet

standards required for international trade.

case study: Rehabilitating cocoa for

improving livelihoods in the South Pacific

A decade of low world cocoa prices has led smallholder farmers in the South

Pacific Islands to neglect their cocoa trees and this has resulted in a decline

in cocoa production. However, market prices are forecast to rise during the

next decade.

Constraints to cocoa production in this region include pests and diseases

such as Black Pod (Phytophthora palmivora) and damage caused by rats.

Cocoa production could be increased through integrated pest and disease

management (IPDM), while quality would be improved through attention to the

fermentation and drying processes.

By interviewing farmers in each of the three Vanuatu cocoa farmer networks,

CABI has assessed the current level of awareness and understanding of

cocoa pests and diseases and the possible IPDM methods such as cultural,

biological and chemical control that can be implemented.

Through Farmer Field Schools, CABI will explain and demonstrate a range of

IPDM methods for control of Black Pod, such as phytosanitation, use of resistant

varieties, as well as more general techniques of pruning and shade management

to members of each farming network. Trial plots will be established to

demonstrate a selection of different IPDM methods and lead farmers will record

their labour inputs for each method over the 12 month trial period.