EU invests $6.3M into AI-driven cocoa cell culture project
In Europe, the EU is investing €5.5 million ($6.3 million) in a research consortium looking to produce cocoa more sustainably by using cell culture. COCO-AI, short for “AI-Optimised Plant Cell Culture Platform for Sustainable Production of Secondary Metabolites, Demonstrated with Cocoa” is using AI to analyze biological data and optimize plant cell growth, helping researchers create natural compounds with less reliance on traditional agriculture. Among agricultural commodities, cocoa is especially challenged by climate change, supply-chain risks, and environmental pressures.
“Cocoa sits at the intersection of climate risk, geopolitical fragility, and surging global demand,” Dario Breitel, CTO of startup Kokomodo told Green Queen. “Our platform enables consistent, high-quality cocoa ingredients produced independently of tropical supply chains, helping manufacturers and policymakers strengthen food security and supply resilience as traditional production faces mounting pressure,” he added.
Category: Chemicals & Materials
