Sweet science: IBM teams with chocolatier to grow better beans

Candy bar maker Mars is working with IBM and the United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) to apply their scientific experience and computing resources to sequence and analyse the entire cocoa genome.

By Chris Maxcer

27 Jun 2008

This scientific inquiry is more than a simple effort to produce richer chocolate for candy lovers. The team is hoping to address issues within the cocoa industry, which has been hit with a trio of devastating fungal diseases that have cost growers an estimated US$700 million in losses annually.

Read the full article here.

Top stories

Uncanny Alley: A New Day, a collaboration between Cape Town immersive studio Virtual Worlds Company and Los Angeles company Ferryman Collective, is one of just three nominees in the Outstanding Emerging Media Program category at the Primetime Emmys (Image supplied)

Marketing & MediaSA VR production one of three nominations at Primetime Emmys

1 day

Image source: Amirul Syaidi –

Legal"It's commercially sensitive" is no longer enough to block PAIA requests

Ryan Tucker 1 day

Truworths annual sales slip to R21.8bn in cautious retail market

RetailTruworths annual sales slip to R21.8bn in cautious retail market

1 day

Source:

Marketing & MediaDolly Parton and the making of a cultural brand

Karabo Ledwaba 1 day

Thirteen Lune picks Takealot for first international expansion in SA

RetailThirteen Lune picks Takealot for first international expansion in SA

1 day

Promoted

Search helped people find brands. ChatGPT Ads will help them choose

Marketing & MediaSearch helped people find brands. ChatGPT Ads will help them choose

RedSeptember 3 days

More news

Image source: Kateryna Babaieva from

Education

WorldSkills SA opens 2027 competition applications in September

1 day

Image credit: , , via Wikimedia Commons

Healthcare

Exclusive | Health Funders Association’s Thoneshan Naidoo on the hardest decisions in healthcare

Thoneshan Naidoo 1 day

Adtopia expands DStv channel portfolio, adding sport, wildlife and youth entertainment to its TV network

Marketing & Media

Adtopia expands DStv channel portfolio, adding sport, wildlife and youth entertainment to its TV network

Adtopia 3 days

Image credit:

ESG & Sustainability

SA companies can no longer afford to ignore extended producer responsibility

1 day

Fanta creates new horror universe for Halloween campaign

Marketing & Media

Fanta creates new horror universe for Halloween campaign

1 day

Why more South African families are rethinking traditional schooling

Education

Why more South African families are rethinking traditional schooling

Impaq 24 Aug 2026

Image source: lekstuntkite –

HR & Management

Turning an exit into advantage: How smart boards protect market value during executive transitions

Thabiso Legoete 1 day

Image supplied.

Energy & Mining

#WomensMonth | Engen’s Vanessa Moorthi-Moodley is giving women a seat at the petroleum table

Maroefah Smith 1 day

From London, With Love: A very special afternoon at Cape Grace

Lifestyle

From London, With Love: A very special afternoon at Cape Grace

Chloe Posthumus 1 day

Let's do Biz