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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #357717
Research Project: Characterizing and Evaluating the Genetic Diversity and Horticultural Value of Genetic Resources for Cacao and Other Tropical tree crops Economically important to the United States

Location: Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory

Title: Conserving and exploiting cocoa genetic resources: the key challenges

Author
item LALIBERTE, BRIGITTE - Bioversity International
item END, MICHELLE - University Of Reading
item CRYER, NICHOLAS - Mondelez International
item DAYMOND, ANDREW - University Of Reading
item ENGELS, JAN - Bioversity International
item ESKS, ALBERTUS - Bioversity International
item GILMOUR, MARTIN - Mars, Inc
item LACHENAUD, PHILIPPE - Cirad, France
item PHILLIPS-MORA, WILBERT - Catie Tropical Agricultural Research
item TURNBULL, CHRIS - University Of Reading
item UMAHARAN, PATH - Cocoa Research Unit - Trinidad
item Zhang, Dapeng
item WEISE, STEPHAN - Bioversity International

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2018
Publication Date: 7/31/2018
Citation: Laliberte, B., End, M., Cryer, N., Daymond, A., Engels, J., Esks, A., Gilmour, M., Lachenaud, P., Phillips-Mora, W., Turnbull, C., Umaharan, P., Zhang, D., Weise, S. 2018. Conserving and exploiting cocoa genetic resources: the key challenges. In: Umaharan, P., Achieving sustainable cultivation of cocoa, Cambridge, UK: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. 25 p.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cacao genetic resources are the foundation for achieving a sustainable cocoa economy in the world. A considerable portion of the global cacao diversity is in situ, in farmers’ fields and held in genebanks around the world, including two international collections. Unfortunately, much of the genetic resources maintained in national collections is at risk and funding remains insufficient and unstable. In order to optimize the conservation and maximize the use of cacao genetic resources, it is imperative to bring together national and international players to ensure that the: cacao genepool is conserved in situ and ex situ for the long term by a global network of partners; global system for the safe exchange of cacao germplasm is strengthened use of cacao genetic diversity is optimized; effectiveness of global efforts to conserve and use cacao genetic resources is assured. This chapter reviewed the main challenges in conservation and use of cacao genetic resources and how these challenges are being addressed following the Global Strategy for the Conservation and Use of Cacao Genetic Resources, which was developed between 2011 and 2012 by the international cacao community. The Global Strategy provides a framework to secure funding and collective actions for the most urgent needs for cacao research community and provides direct benefits to the millions of small-scale cacao farmers around the world. Key issues and research priorities for global conservation and use of cocoa genetic resources are also discussed in this chapter.