Success in Interna-onal Collabora-ons in Science: Research on Cocoa at Penn State. Siela Maximova. AIARD 51st Conference

Transcription

1 Success in Interna-onal Collabora-ons in Science: Research on Cocoa at Penn State Siela Maximova AIARD 51st Conference

2 Theobroma cacao Range The Humid Tropics Theobroma contains 22 species, all origina-ng in the tropical rainforest of equatorial America (from 18 o N to 15 o S). Image: h)p://agritech.tnau.ac.in/hor4culture/hor4_planta4on%20crops_cocoa.html

3 Cocoa Tree in the Wild Understory Rainforest Tree Con4nuously rejuvenates via basal shoots and seeds Ecuadorian Amazonia Photo: Mark Guil4nan, PSU

4 Photo: Mark Guil4nan, PSU

5 Social and Environmental Impacts of Cocoa Cul-va-on Socio- economic benefits: 70% of world crop grown by 5-6 million growers with 1-2 Hectare farms. Alterna4ve to illicit crops (coca in Peru and Colombia) Farming is an important source of cash to enhance their well being. Environmental benefits: Habitat, watershed and soil benefits. Cacao farming family from Naso indigenous tribe in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Photo: Mark Guil4nan, PSU

6 Main Threats to Sustainability and Cocoa Farming Plant diseases and pests: 40% poten-al crop loss Low yields: current world ave. 300 kg/ha/yr, poten-al 4,000 kg/ha/yr + Low incomes: low incen-ves for farmers to invest, lack of next genera-on of cocoa farmers Climate change: Severe weather: drought, floods, temperature and humidity shizs

7 Global Cocoa Yields/Ha are Flat World + (Total) Yield (Kg/Ha) Source FAOSTAT h)p://faostat.fao.org

8 Photo: Mark Guil4nan, PSU

9 A Model University- Industry Partnership with Relevance to PA, the US and the World Endowment of 1.5 million made in 1986 has now grown to over $2.6 million. Funded by the American Cocoa Research Ins-tute. Primary members included: Hershey's, M&M Mars, Nestles, ADM. Broad mandate to perform research on improvement of the cocoa plant. Close working rela-onship between World Cocoa Founda-ons stakeholders and the PSU program.

10 Penn State Cocoa Website Tour h)p://plantscience.psu.edu/research/labs/guil4nan Photo: Mark Guil4nan, PSU

11 How can research in Biotechnology help cocoa farmers and the rainforest? By speeding up breeding to develop high yielding, disease resistant plants. By mass propaga-on of elite varie-es. By providing healthy, vigorous plants to farmers. By providing alterna-ves to chemical pes-cides and insec-cides (Integrated Pest Management/Biocontrol).

12 Theobroma cacao Grows in the The Humid Tropics: Penn State is Located in Pennsylvania Penn State It is cri-cally important to create connec-ons with the scien-sts in the producing countries. Image: h)p://agritech.tnau.ac.in/hor4culture/hor4_planta4on%20crops_cocoa.html

13 Penn State Cocoa Building Research Rela-onships Producing Countries Brazil Corte d Ivore Costa Rica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Ghana India Indonesia Malaysia Maryland México Nicaragua Nigeria Panamá USA Hawaii Maryland Miami Puerto Rico South Carolina Europe France Switzerland UK Peru Puerto Rico St. Lucia Trinidad and Tobago Venezuela Vietnam Venezuela

14 How important are long- term rela-onships and the availability of consistent funding? The first scien-fic manuscript with interna-onal collaborator was published in 2002 with France. The first scien-fic manuscript with interna-onal collaborator from the cacao growing region was published in 2008 with Brazil, many azer. Interna-onal Collabora-ve Publica-ons (Black Arrows) Producing Countries USA Europe USA Brazil Florida France Costa Rica Louisiana Korea Ecuador Maryland UK Nigeria New York Panama North Carolina Trinidad Puerto Rico Venezuela Malaysia Hawaii Maryland Miami Puerto Rico South Carolina Europe France Switzerland UK Producing Countries Brazil Corte d Ivore Costa Rica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Ghana India Indonesia Malaysia Maryland México Nicaragua Nigeria Panamá Peru Puerto Rico St. Lucia Trinidad and Tobago Venezuela Vietnam Venezuela

15 Nature Gene0cs December 26 th, 2010 Vol 43(2) Collabora-ve Research on Gene-cs and Genomics for Future Development of Elite Cacao Plants

16 The Interna-onal Cocoa Genome Sequencing Consor-um 61 Scien-sts from 23 Ins-tu-ons Claire Lanaud Photo: Mark Guil4nan, PSU

17 Funding of the Cacao Funding Genome Project Venezuelan Ministry of Science, Technology and Industry

18 In Vitro Cloning Technology for Elite Plants Penn State and Nestle Collabora-ve Field Test The Nestle Farm, Ecuador Average yield of 2.6 t/ha from SE plants Photos: Mark Guil4nan, PSU

19 Field Test Sites for In Vitro Cloning Technology Country Ecuador Saint Lucia Puerto Rico Indonesia Brazil Ghana Funding Nestle; Government of Ecuador World Finest Chocolate; WCF USDA Government of Indonesia Mars Company USAID Ivory Coast USAID; Nestle; Government Malaysia of Ivory Coast Government of Malaysia Photos: Mark Guil4nan, PSU

20 Large- scale Propaga-on of Cacao at Indonesia Coffee and Cocoa Research Ins-tute B Today more then 100 million plants are growing in Indonesia propagated using in vitro technology developed by Penn State and Nestle, France Photos: Mark Guil4nan, PSU

21 The Impact of Penn State Molecular Biology of Cacao on Interna-onal Research and Educa-on Since 1986 the endowed cocoa research has produced over 100 peer- reviewed publica-ons on variety of topics. Training of scien-sts since 1995: 30 visi-ng scien-sts from the interna-onal community 15 graduate students 7 postdocs many of whom work in the chocolate industry today More then 100 US and Interna-onal undergraduate students Leverage funding from the USDA, NSF, USAID, The Gates Founda-on and Industry

22 Conclusions Permanent funding for tropical plant research provides suitability and opportuni-es to: Create and sustain research rela-onships and networks. Provide opportuni-es to leverage funds from varie-es funding sources. Partner in interna-onal research ini-a-ves. Conduct long- term crop research without interrup-on. Con-nuously educate interna-onal scien-sts.

23 Deanna Behring Director of Interna-onal Programs Thank you! Ques4ons? Photos: Mark Guil4nan, PSU