The Cacao Genome Project hopes to help save the chocolate

by Shayna Glick, Posted Jun 30th 2008 @ 11:30AM

Modern science is an amazing thing. Scientists are working on coding the DNA sequences of just about everything, nowadays. You can add cacao to that list.

According to the BBC, the Mars Company, in conjunction with IBM and the US Department of Agriculture, is working on coding the DNA of cacao, which is the tropical tree that we get chocolate from. They're calling it the Cacao Genome Project, and it should take about five years to complete. Some of the aims of the project include finding ways to make the trees more disease resistant and less susceptible to water shortages, as well generally improving crop yields.

One thing about this research project that is particularly admirable is that all of the information will be publicly available as the information comes. Everything they learn will be put into the Public Intellectual Property Resource for Agriculture, so researchers all over the world will have access to the information.

Filed Under: Science, Newspapers, Ingredients
Tags: BBC, cacao genome project, CacaoGenomeProject, chocolate, DNA, IBM, Mars company, MarsCompany, USDA