Mars Inc. has licensed gene-editing tools in a bid to improve cacao production, company officials announced Wednesday.
Pairwise said that the confections and pet food maker would receive access to its CRISPR tools — including the SHARC enzyme — as well as additional enzymes, trait libraries and gene editing tools.
Chocolate makers across the globe have faced rising costs for cacao in recent years due to a range of environmental factors in tropical regions where those trees grow. Modifying cacao to bolster the plants against bad weather, disease or other environmental stressors, officials said, could help address increasing pressures on the crop.
Mars Plant Sciences Director Carl Jones said in a statement that the company believes CRISPR could “support and strengthen global supply chains."
“Our focus is to transparently and responsibly conduct CRISPR research in plant science that helps crops better adapt to climate challenges, disease pressures and resource constraints,” Jones said.
Ian Miller, chief operating officer at Pairwise, added, "Plant breeding innovation has the potential to help address important agricultural challenges, and we look forward to supporting Mars' research goals."
