Commercialising cocoa growing in north Queensland

Summary

NOTE: Project start date 15/4/08 following submission of current project (*592)

Program

New and Emerging Plant Industries

Research Organisation

The State of Queensland acting through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Objective Summary

This project is focussed on supporting development of a new commercial cocoa industry based in north Queensland. The project will have 3 main components: 1). Facilitate, support and monitor Cadbury Schweppes (CS) linked pilot commercial cocoa plantings 2). Support general industry development activities including publication of an Australian Cocoa Growing Guide 3). Support to non CSlinked growers including Cocoa Australia (CA) linked growers and to CA management and proprietors In association with component 1) another objective will be to further evaluate existing and new planting material (yield and general performance) in commercial plantings and test the commercial viability for production of ‘commodity’ cocoa. The overall objective from all activities will be to reduce risks to participants in the emergent industry and increase the likelihood of a viable cocoa industry becoming established in north Queensland whether for commodity or ‘niche’ markets. Furthermore, performance of the project will provide ongoing engagement with the emergent industry. This will result in an awareness of technical and structural issues which arise so that they can be addressed or strategies developed to deal with them.