Scientists have found three new species that are close relatives to the plant from which chocolate is produced – a discovery that they believe could pave the way for climate-proof chocolate.
The new species, discovered in the rainforests of South America, are closely related to Theobroma cacao, the tree that bears cocoa beans.
Three new species of Theogroma within the section Herrania were found: Theobroma globosum, T. nervosum and T. schultesii.
The discovery could lead to the development of more climate-resilient cacao trees, which in turn would help sustain the production of products derived from cacao, the raw unprocessed version of cocoa, such as chocolate.
Prices of cocoa reached record levels earlier this year as poor weather and disease devastated crops in Ghana and Ivory Coast. Lack of investment has also led to farmers relying on ageing plantations, reported the Financial Times. “[…] we will see commodity prices continue to go up in coffee and cocoa,” warned Nestlé COO Anna Manz last week on a conference call to present the company’s half year results.
Prices have started to fall as weather concerns ease, but there is little doubt that problems related to a changing climate will persist.
James Richardson of University College Cork, who ran the project with experts at the University of São Paulo and New York Botanical Garden, explained: “Cacao prices have trebled in recent months due to low production as a result of a prolonged period of drought in West Africa, which is the area of greatest production.” He said the discovery of new species, in addition to those already known, “expands the genetic resources that are available to us that might allow us to produce drought-tolerant or disease resistant cacao trees”.
The research has been published in the journal Kew Bulletin.
