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Diving Briefs:
- Candy Giant Mars uses genetic editing CRISPR technology to breed better cocoa plants with climate challenge and disease pressure.
- The manufacturers of Snickers and M & M grant the innovation of Pairwise, a seven -year -old company using CRISPR, to change the DNA of fruits, vegetables and other plants.
- Mars will use this tool to identify genetic characteristics that can help crops become disease resistance or adapt to hot temperatures.
Dive Insights:
Due to the lack of global cocoa, the cost has increased significantly, urging food companies to raise chocolate prices.
Hershey told retailers at the end of July that he would raise the price in two digits, quoting “unprecedented cocoa costs.” Chocolate giants also adjusted innovation approaches for less dependent on chocolate and more dependent on peanut butter, wafer and other trendy materials.
Other chocolate manufacturers felt heat from higher prices, including Swiss Chocolatier Lindt, which also rose to two digits. Adalbert Lechner CEO said that the demand is slipping because the product costs close to the “record best”.
Drought, aging and plant diseases have depleted the supply of Africa, which is responsible for 70%of the world’s cocoa crops. The chocolate manufacturer hopes that the supply will recover due to the improvement of crops and the low demand, but LINDT’s CEO told investors on August 1, “plant diseases continue to affect the cocoa farm in Africa, and the overall situation is volatile.”
By investing in genetic editing research, MARS hopes to solve agricultural problems in cocoa production and guarantee steady supply of products.
FULCRUM, a flagship technology platform of Pairwise, uses CRISPR gene editing to develop new crops and access various tools that can be launched in the market faster than traditional breeding methods. The company used this technology to develop products such as blackberry and bitter mustard green with no seeds.
Carl Jones, a factory science director of Hwaseong, said in a statement, “I think that in Mars that CRISPR has the potential to improve crops by supporting and strengthening global supply chains.” Our focus is a crispr study on plant science so that crops can better adapt to climate challenge, disease pressure and resource constraints. It is to do it with responsibility. “
Food giants, including Hershey, Mondelēz, and Nestlé, have invested millions of dollars to improve cocoa production and support sustainable agriculture. The company also showed interest in alternatives by investing in the production of cocoa in Mondelēz, which was raised in the laboratory.
