This post originally appeared in the Plant Molecular Biology Lab, IPB, Bogor blog of Prof. Sudarsono on February 3, 2012

Fellowship and Research Program Officer of World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), Ms. Virginia Sopyla – plan visit Department of Agronomy and Horticulture (AGH), IPB, Bogor on Monday – February 6, 2012. The purposes of her visit will be: (1) to learn more about cocoa research conducted at IPB and (2) to meet with Dr. Dini Dinarty – former Norman E. Borlaugh – WCF Cocoa Fellowship.Ms. Sopyla will also give a brief presentation on the World Cocoa Foundation and its activities for those who are interested.

World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) is a non-profit organization founded in 2000 for the purpose of promoting social and economic development as well as environmental stewardship in cocoa-growing communities. The foundation is a membership-based organization with about 70 member companies involved in the cocoa and chocolate industries around the world. The foundation is based in Washington, DC. and supports programs that benefit farmers in cocoa-growing regions in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Americas. Specific program activities include training for farmers and communities as well as applied scientific research.

One of these programs is the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Program – Global Cocoa Initiative. The program is jointly implemented by the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and the US Department of Agriculture/Foreign Agricultural Service, and support scientists from cocoa-producing countries to complete two-to-three month fellowship in the United States. Last year, Dr Dini Dinarti of Department of Agronomy and Horticulture (AGH), IPB participated in the program and completed a fellowship at the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service.

Under the support of WCF fellowship, Dr. Dini Dinarti has visited Beltsville-Maryland, USA for a three months training in cacao biotechnology. She studied SSR and SNP markers analysis in cacao. She used the data for diversity analysis and clone identification of cacao.

Graduate students (S2 and S3), research staffs of Estate Crops Research Institutes in Bogor, and staffs of IPB who are interested in World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) activities and possible opportunities that can be developed through WCF are invited to attend the presentation. The presentation will be conducted on Monday, February 6-2012 at about 10.00 in the morning. It will be at ‘Ruang Sidang AGH’ – Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, IPB, Jl. Meranti – Darmaga Campus, Bogor.

This post originally appeared in the USAID Impactblog on February 14, 2012.

They say the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. And whether you’re enjoying the fruits (or beans!) of the world’s cocoa harvest through your favorite candy bar during your afternoon snack, or receiving a heart-shaped box of cream-filled goodness for Valentine’s Day today, it’s worth considering how the delectable confection came to be in the first place – and how supporting the industry can lead to increased global food security.

You might think that’s quite a jump. But cocoa in West Africa contributes considerably to farmer livelihoods and national economies. Collectively, this region’s 2 million smallholder cocoa farmers produce approximately 70% of the world’s supply. With a projected strong, long-term demand, cocoa has great potential to increase these farmers’ incomes. To do so significantly requires improving productivity to make cocoa farming more economically attractive and environmentally sustainable.

The U.S. Government is supporting precisely these efforts with Feed the Future, President Obama’s global hunger and food security initiative. Through a partnership between the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Cocoa Foundation and the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), Feed the Future has embarked upon an alliance that will help alleviate poverty and increase farmer incomes in West Africa while strengthening government and regional institutions, advancing food security throughout the region.

Over its five-year lifespan, Feed the Future’s Africa Cocoa Initiative (ACI) will leverage a total of $11 million in investments from its principal partners. It also includes private sector participation from key chocolate-producing companies, including ADM Cocoa, Barry Callebaut, Blommer Chocolate Company, Cargill, Continaf BV, Ferrero, Guittard Chocolate Company, The Hershey Company, Kraft Foods, Lindt & Sprungli, Nestle, Olam International Ltd. and Mars.

To create an environment where increased productivity is possible, the ACI is providing farmer productivity training, including disease and pest control, harvesting, drying, pruning and worker safety; introducing higher-yielding tree stock; and working with agro-dealer networks to improve access to fertilizer, inputs and extension support. The project also supports propagation of new clones and seed gardens adapted to West African soils. Ultimately, the ACI aims to double cocoa productivity and train 100,000 farmers.

So it’s nice to keep in mind that, as you enjoy your chocolate treats today and all year long, there are long-term efforts in place to help those who made its production possible. And that’s an idea we can all fall in love with.

Feed the Future is the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative. To learn more or to get involved, visit www.feedthefuture.gov.