Researchers Want To Vaccinate Cacao Trees To Protect Global Chocolate Supply?

In a new study published in Science Daily, researchers have advocated vaccinating cacao trees to prevent the spread of a “damaging virus” from devastating the world’s chocolate supply.

“A rapidly spreading virus threatens the health of the cacao tree and the dried seeds from which chocolate is made, jeopardizing the global supply of the world’s most popular treat,” the researchers wrote.

“About 50% of the world’s chocolate originates from cacao trees in the West Africa countries of Ivory Coast and Ghana. The damaging virus is attacking cacao trees in Ghana, resulting in harvest losses of between 15 and 50%. Spread by small insects called mealybugs that eat the leaves, buds and flowers of trees, the cacao swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD) is among the most damaging

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