Peru and Brazil will promote research to improve the quality of cocoa

By Espinosa Bellido Abogados

The governments of Peru and Brazil signed a memorandum of understanding that aims to promote research strategies to improve the genetic quality of cocoa in favor of producers.

EFE news agency reported that the agreement, signed by the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA) of the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation of Peru, authorizes both countries to develop studies that evaluate the quality of the cultivation of cocoa.
These investigations, as specified in a statement by the INIA, will be carried out with a focus on cadmium levels, moniliasis resistance production systems and adaptation to the effects that climate change may generate.

The memorandum also aims to facilitate the exchange of information on research and developments, safeguarding the intellectual property of the two parties involved and the interests of third parties.

It will allow access to cocoa genetic resources for the import and export of genetic material for research purposes, while promoting strategies for disseminating research results through publications and scientific events.

Between 2010 and 2020, the production of cocoa beans in Peru, the second largest producer of organic cocoa, registered a growth rate of 12.6% per year, according to official data.