Mars turns to science to futureproof chocolate.
(Image: Getty/Ekaterina79)
Mars teams up with biotech firm Pairwise to futureproof cocoa crops using gene editing
Mars & Pairwise set sights on cocoa
- Mars partners with biotech firm Pairwise to develop climate-resilient cocoa
- Global cocoa supply under threat due to climate change
- Cocoa prices hit a record $10.75/kg in January 2025
- Market volatility remains, with analysts warning of continued uncertainty
Confectionery giant Mars Inc, has teamed up with biotechnology firm Pairwise, to develop more resilient cocoa, using CRISPR.
What is CRISPR?
CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a gene editing technology that allows scientists to modify DNA sequences in living organisms.
The agreement gives the American confectionery giant access to Pairwise’s Fulcrum platform, which includes a library of plant traits. With this knowledge Mars will be able to tailor its crops to be stronger and more sustainable.
“Building on plant breeding practices that have existed for centuries, new gene editing techniques, such as CRISPR, offer exciting potential to accelerate progress in the area of agricultural and plant resilience,” said a spokesperson for Mars.
The goal is to create cacao plants – the source of cacao beans, which are roasted to produce cocoa – that can better withstand disease, heat and other climate-related stresses.
Cocoa crisis
The world is facing a cocoa crisis, as climate change threatens global supply.
The price of cocoa hit a record high of $10.75 per kilogram in January 2025, following poor growing conditions in West Africa, a major growing region.
This was exacerbated by strong seasonal demand, as consumers stocked up on cakes and chocolates for the 2024 festive season, leading to a global deficit.
And while the situation has now begun to stabilise, with prices falling steadily, the threat of extreme weather to future crops remains, meaning industry must act fast.
“The cocoa market heads into Q3 and Q4 delicately balanced, with volatility likely to persist,” says Ben Schräder, market analyst at Vesper.
But Mars remains confident that gene editing could be the solution.
“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 in a statement. “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.”
