Candy-maker Mars has said it is partnering with biotech company Pairwise to speed up the development of more resilient cocoa using CRISPR-based gene-editing technology. This agreement gives the company access to Fulcrum platform, which includes gene editing tools, enzymes and trait libraries, and gives Mars the ability to tailor its crops to be stronger and more sustainable.
The goal is to create cacao plants — the source of cacao beans, which are used to make cocoa — that can better withstand disease, heat, and climate-related risks that threaten the global supply of chocolate.
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CRISPR is a gene-editing tool used to make fast and precise changes to DNA. It can be used to improve crops by improving different traits like drought- and disease-resistance. “At Mars, we believe CRISPR has the potential to improve crops in ways that support and strengthen global supply chains,” said Carl Jones, Plant Sciences Director at Mars. “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.”
Ian Miller, the COO at Pairwise said, “We’re pleased to provide Mars with access to our Fulcrum™ platform for their cacao research and development initiatives. Plant breeding innovation has the potential to help address important agricultural challenges, and we look forward to supporting Mars’ research goals.” The Fulcrum platform enables precise changes that unlock the plant’s inherent potential to greatly accelerate the development of impactful crop traits compared to traditional breeding methods.
Mars has said it supports “the use of ongoing science-based assessments to understand and address any inherent risks related to this technology.”
“Further, we support the development of a regulatory environment that enables the use of gene-editing techniques in food ingredients, promotes transparency of their use to consumers and moves toward harmonized classification and requirements for these ingredients across markets,” the company said.
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Mars’ partnership with Pairwise is particularly notable in light of recent cocoa shortages in West Africa, which accounts for about 70% of global cocoa supply. This was a result of adverse weather conditions and increased disease incidence, which pushed cocoa prices to record highs of around $12,000/tons last year. Other companies making use of CRISPR technology in agriculture include Bayer, Syngenta and Corteva.
CRISPR is also known for its application in genetic disease treatment. Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR therapeutics developed the first CRISPR-based therapy, which got approved for treatment of sickle cell disease in 2023.
Last month, the candy-maker announced a $2 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing through 2026. This includes a new $240 million investment for a Nature’s Bakery facility in Utah.