Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

September 7, 2008 6:24:06 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Quest on for Chocolate Genome

Posted Jun 26, 08 6:44 AM CDT in Science & Health,  Business 

(Newser) – Candy giant Mars is investing $10 million in a 5-year research project to unlock the secrets of chocolate's genetic code—the cocoa genome—as the first stage in developing cacao trees that can produce more, survive droughts, and combat disease. Mars intends to make the results public to stop key genes from being privately patented, reports the Washington Post. The cocoa harvest has become volatile and unreliable in recent years.

"We have the ability as a private company to take charge of the future," said a Mars executive. "We'll have the full toolbox to use as opposed to the pocketful of tools we have now."

Source Washington Post

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon
Mars is developing a project to map the cocoa genome to produce a stronger crop for chocolate lovers.   (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, file)
Cocoa beans in a cacao pod. Mars is developing a project to map the cocoa genome to produce a stronger crop for chocolate lovers.
Families harvest cocoa beans in Ecuador. Children often suck on fresh beans during the harvest.   (Magnum Photos)
Heart-shaped chocolate are sold for Valentine's Day in Rome.   (Getty Images)
Mars is funding a project to sequence the chocolate genome.   (KRT Photos)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 1)

Tags

Brazil  • Mars  • IBM  • drought  • chocolate  • genome  • Department of Agriculture  • West Africa


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular


Other Business Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »