A new partnership between Mars, Incorporated and biotechnology firm Pairwise is set to explore how gene-editing tools could help secure the future of cocoa production—just as the industry grapples with soaring prices and climate-driven supply shortages.
West Africa, the source of 70% of the world’s cocoa, is facing a perfect storm of challenges: prolonged droughts, aging cacao trees with declining yields, and the spread of diseases like vascular-streak dieback. These pressures have pushed cocoa prices to record highs, squeezing chocolate manufacturers and raising concerns about long-term supply stability. Against this backdrop, Mars’ collaboration with Pairwise arrives at a critical juncture, offering a potential pathway to more resilient and productive cacao varieties.
At the heart of the initiative is Pairwise’s **Fulcrum platform**, a gene-editing technology designed to accelerate plant breeding. Traditional cacao trees take three to five years to mature and produce pods, a timeline that struggles to keep pace with rising global demand. By leveraging precise genetic modifications, researchers can rapidly test and refine traits—such as drought resistance, disease tolerance, or higher yields—without the lengthy trial-and-error process of conventional breeding.
Ian Miller, Pairwise’s Chief Operating Officer, underscored the partnership’s focus on sustainability. *”Plant breeding innovation has the potential to help address important agricultural challenges,”* he noted, highlighting how targeted genetic improvements could help farmers adapt to climate change while maintaining productivity.
The implications extend beyond farm gates. If successful, faster-breeding techniques could strengthen cocoa value chains by reducing the time and resources needed to develop new varieties. For chocolate producers like Mars, this could translate into greater supply chain resilience and, potentially, lower production costs—a welcome prospect as input prices remain volatile.
Yet the technology’s adoption won’t be without hurdles. Gene-edited crops often face regulatory scrutiny and public skepticism, particularly in key markets like the European Union. Mars and Pairwise will need to navigate these challenges while ensuring that any new varieties deliver tangible benefits to smallholder farmers, who produce the bulk of the world’s cocoa.
For now, the partnership signals a growing recognition that traditional agricultural practices alone may not be enough to safeguard cocoa’s future. As climate pressures intensify, the industry’s ability to innovate—whether through genetics, agronomy, or farmer support—could determine whether chocolate remains an affordable luxury or becomes an increasingly scarce commodity.