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Will CRISPR Save Cocoa?

Oct 14, 2025 | Food

OUR TAKE

The global cocoa supply is under serious strain. Extreme weather and crop disease in West Africa, which produces 70% of the world’s cocoa, sent chocolate prices through the roof and pushed global cocoa supply to a 45-year low. While CRISPR tech isn’t new, its importance to the cocoa industry could be a breakthrough. Developing crops that can withstand disease and climate stress will offer a long-term solution to a persistent problem. This development will be essential for major chocolate suppliers who want to keep costs reasonable, rather than lose sales. Like Mars, food giants Hershey and Nestlé are investing in similar practices. With the impacts of climate change continuing to mount, cocoa industry giants must adapt soon.

Source Summary

Mars, the maker of Snickers and M&M’s, is turning to gene editing in hopes it will provide a solution to global cocoa shortages. Mars is partnering with ag-biotech firm Pairwise to apply CRISPR technology to cocoa plants, using Pairwise’s Fulcrum platform to make precise edits to plant DNA. The goal is to create a more resilient cocoa plant that can better withstand disease and climate stresses.

READ MORE: Snickers maker Mars to use gene-editing in pursuit of stable chocolate supply

[Food Dive ]

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climate-change
Climate Change

Measurable changes in global and or regional climate patterns that began to increase exponentially in the mid to late 20th century. This dramatic change is largely attributed to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.

crispr
CRISPR

A gene editing tool that’s cheap ($75), precise and fast becoming universal, CRISPR adopts the mechanism that bacteria use to recognize and attack viruses. It can be used on any organism, any species, plant or animal.