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The drying process is just as crucial to quality as fermentation. Poor drying practices will lead to poor quality cocoa. In areas where there is a lot of rain and high humidity, such as the tropical environment of the Pacific, drying is a particular challenge to avoid the production of poor-quality beans.
25 Oct 2021
blog

Improved processing to boost cocoa quality in the Pacific

Cocoa is an important export for the Pacific island countries of Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In Vanuatu, 25% of rural households are involved in cocoa production, and in the Solomon Islands, cocoa is the biggest agricultural export earner, generating around A$20 million per year. Over the years there has been an increase for domestic demand for cocoa products and potential for their industries to access higher value niche markets.

Fruit fly on Mango in Java, Indonesia.
06 Oct 2021
news

Australia & SE Asia join to control mango pest

An ACIAR-supported project is showing promising results in reducing fruit fly damage to mangoes grown in parts of Indonesia and the Philippines. Nearly 5 million growers across the two countries depend on mangoes as a source of income, a majority being resource-poor smallholder farmers. Reducing the damage and impacts caused by fruit flies can decrease food loss, improve fruit quality, and boost farmer livelihoods.