Cocoa Propagation Project

Traditional propagation techniques suffer from many challenges. The main difficulties are maintaining the homogeneity of plant material (an exact replicate of the mother plant) during large-scale propagation and a lack of deep penetrating roots, thus increasing susceptibility to water stress. Nestlé has developed a competency in somatic embryogenesis, a relatively new technique that does not change the plant material but enables deep soil penetrating roots with greater drought tolerance. Currently, Nestlé’s technology is applied, or in the process of being established, in several water-stressed countries or regions in Latin America and SE Asia. An R&D project is on-going to roll-out a new liquid medium-based propagation technology. Additionally, the project addresses the urgent need to build local capacity to scale-up propagation efforts and thus speed up the phasing -in of advanced plant material.

The following main activities are planned, specifically in the most water-stressed regions or countries:

• Scale-up existing activities or new projects in key countries, with regional drought or other water-stress issues, amongst Nestlé’s providers of high-quality cocoa.
• Start new projects in bulk cocoa-supplying countries
• Train local scientists in advanced propagation technologies that can be replicated in their home countries (1 year visiting fellows programme)
• Build local partnerships for initial experimental fields that showcase improved yield, quality and drought tolerance.