Can you imagine a world without chocolate?
Can
you
imagine
a
world
without
chocolate
?
It's not something I'd like to do, so I was relieved to read that there's a university with a programme to safeguard the future of chocolate!
It
's
not
something
I
'd
like
to
do
,
so
I
was
relieved
to
read
that
there
's
a
university
with
a
programme
to
safeguard
the
future
of
chocolate
!
The University of Reading, in England, has just opened a new clearing house for all the world's new cocoa varieties.
The
University
of
Reading
,
in
England
,
has
just
opened
a
new
clearing
house
for
all
the
world
's
new
cocoa
varieties
.
They must be quarantined before they can be grown.
They
must
be
quarantined
before
they
can
be
grown
.
Why?
Why
?
Cocoa production hit a record high of 4.4 million tons last year but about 30% of the precious crop is regularly lost to pests and diseases.
Cocoa
production
hit
a
record
high
of
4.4
million
tons
last
year
but
about
30
%
of
the
precious
crop
is
regularly
lost
to
pests
and
diseases
.
Now we don't want that, do we?
Now
we
do
n't
want
that
,
do
we
?
Demand for chocolate has been increasing faster than the world supply of cocoa and researchers think that new varieties are key to solving this problem.
Demand
for
chocolate
has
been
increasing
faster
than
the
world
supply
of
cocoa
and
researchers
think
that
new
varieties
are
key
to
solving
this
problem
.
The University of Reading has been protecting the quality of the new crop since 1985, after it took over the task from the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London.
The
University
of
Reading
has
been
protecting
the
quality
of
the
new
crop
since
1985
,
after
it
took
over
the
task
from
the
Royal
Botanical
Gardens
in
Kew
,
London
.
And it has improved its facilities.
And
it
has
improved
its
facilities
.
The leader of the institution's cocoa project, Professor Paul Hadley, says, "One of the main issues concerning cocoa improvement is the supply of reliably clean, healthy, interesting cocoa material."
The
leader
of
the
institution
's
cocoa
project
,
Professor
Paul
Hadley
,
says
,
``
One
of
the
main
issues
concerning
cocoa
improvement
is
the
supply
of
reliably
clean
,
healthy
,
interesting
cocoa
material
.
''
The cocoa centre has a collection of 400 plant varieties and their greenhouse uses a lot of energy to keep them in tropical conditions.
The
cocoa
centre
has
a
collection
of
400
plant
varieties
and
their
greenhouse
uses
a
lot
of
energy
to
keep
them
in
tropical
conditions
.
After up to two years in quarantine, clean and safe seeds are sent to some 20 countries, including several in West Africa.
After
up
to
two
years
in
quarantine
,
clean
and
safe
seeds
are
sent
to
some
20
countries
,
including
several
in
West
Africa
.
That's where 75% of the cocoa used for chocolate worldwide comes from.
That
's
where
75
%
of
the
cocoa
used
for
chocolate
worldwide
comes
from
.
The crop is extremely important for the local economy: it employs about two million people.
The
crop
is
extremely
important
for
the
local
economy
:
it
employs
about
two
million
people
.
Professor Paul Hadley says he works with a small team of skilled technicians who look after the collection.
Professor
Paul
Hadley
says
he
works
with
a
small
team
of
skilled
technicians
who
look
after
the
collection
.
And more of us seem to count on them now.
And
more
of
us
seem
to
count
on
them
now
.
The scientist says, "There is some concern within the industry that demand is increasing constantly, particularly in countries like China, where the standard of living is increasing and people are getting a taste for different chocolates."
The
scientist
says
,
``
There
is
some
concern
within
the
industry
that
demand
is
increasing
constantly
,
particularly
in
countries
like
China
,
where
the
standard
of
living
is
increasing
and
people
are
getting
a
taste
for
different
chocolates
.
''
Can you imagine a world without chocolate? It's not something I'd like to do, so I was relieved to read that there's a university with a programme to safeguard the future of chocolate!  The University of Reading, in England, has just opened a new clearing house for all the world's new cocoa varieties. They must be quarantined before they can be grown. Why? Cocoa production hit a record high of 4.4 million tons last year but about 30% of the precious crop is regularly lost to pests and diseases. Now we don't want that, do we?  Demand for chocolate has been increasing faster than the world supply of cocoa and researchers think that new varieties are key to solving this problem.  The University of Reading has been protecting the quality of the new crop since 1985, after it took over the task from the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London. And it has improved its facilities. The leader of the institution's cocoa project, Professor Paul Hadley, says, "One of the main issues concerning cocoa improvement is the supply of reliably clean, healthy, interesting cocoa material."  The cocoa centre has a collection of 400 plant varieties and their greenhouse uses a lot of energy to keep them in tropical conditions. After up to two years in quarantine, clean and safe seeds are sent to some 20 countries, including several in West Africa. That's where 75% of the cocoa used for chocolate worldwide comes from. The crop is extremely important for the local economy: it employs about two million people.  Professor Paul Hadley says he works with a small team of skilled technicians who look after the collection. And more of us seem to count on them now.  The scientist says, "There is some concern within the industry that demand is increasing constantly, particularly in countries like China, where the standard of living is increasing and people are getting a taste for different chocolates."