IBM, Mars and Washington are out to save world's chocolate supply
July 1, 2008
IBM is working with candy maker Mars and the US government to study the genetic code of cocoa trees to safeguard the world's chocolate supply.
The information will be freely available so it cannot be patented, according to the parties.
The assertion of seed patents against farmers by firms such as Monsanto has increased concern among public interest groups, including the New York-based Public Patent Foundation.
Mars, the maker of M&M candies and Snickers bars, and the US agriculture department will sequence the entire cocoa genome, deciphering the plant's biological map. IBM will analyse the results using Blue Gene, the world's second-fastest supercomputer.
Unrest and plant diseases in Africa, home to two-thirds of cocoa production, have helped to drive up prices 56 percent this year. Cocoa trees in Africa and Asia have become stunted from fungus, insects and drought, triggering supply shortfalls.
IBM says the five-year project will help the more than 6.5 million family farmers - most of them in Africa, South America and Asia - who depend on cocoa.
Cocoa demand would outpace supply by 29 000 tons this season, Fortis Bank said last month. The previous forecast was 6 000 tons. The bank expects a 21 000-ton shortfall for the 2008/09 season.
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