Mars backs gene-edited cocoa for climate-resilient chocolate

US – Confectionery brand Mars is teaming up with biotech firm Pairwise to accelerate the creation of climate-resilient cocoa using CRISPR-based gene editing.

The partnership grants Mars access to Pairwise’s Fulcrum platform, a library of plant traits that can be tailored to improve disease and heat resistance – key threats to the world’s chocolate supply.

The move comes amid ongoing cocoa market turbulence. As highlighted in our Is Cocoa Past Its Sell-By Date? report, 60% of cocoa is sourced from Ivory Coast and Ghana, where extreme weather and disease have cut yields, pushing prices to record highs.

This follows a wider industry trend in climate-proofing key ingredients. In October 2024, multinational coffee chain Starbucks invested in innovation farms to develop resilient coffee plants.

Experts warn volatility will persist, driving innovation in both cocoa preservation and cocoa-free alternatives. For Mars, the goal is to safeguard cocoa crops against climate pressures by creating cacao plants that can better withstand disease and extreme weather conditions.