News Releases

Triple Helix, Triple Impact: UWI’s Cocoa Research Centre Transforms from the Ground Up

For Release Upon Receipt - June 30, 2025

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. June 30th 2025 – Against the backdrop of a 95-year legacy of continuous research in cocoa, The UWI's Cocoa Research Centre (CRC) hosted its 2025 annual research and development symposium (CARDS-2025) under the theme, Building Sustainability and Resilience to the Cocoa Value Chain, at the end of May in the presence of an audience of foreign delegates attending the event in Trinidad. The event also attracted over 150 local cocoa industry stakeholders including cocoa farmers, processors, value add producers, researchers, extension workers, representation from support organizations, NGOs, private sector companies, Ministry of Agriculture and members of the media.

 Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine set the tone for the two-day meeting by reminding the gathering that the annual symposium serves as a crucial platform for the CRC to share its latest research, technologies, innovations and insights with local and foreign stakeholders. Further, she underscored that the event was a testament to the university’s firm commitment to fostering innovation and driving progress in this vital sector.

 A standout moment in Professor Antoine’s address was her announcement of a historic milestone for the St. Augustine Campus, that of the launch of The UWI’s first commercial entity: a chocolate factory established by the Innovation Centre. She emphasized that "with the CRC’s quality management system and the acquisition of high-quality, high-throughput equipment, the factory is poised to enhance efficiency, lower costs and supply high-quality intermediary products to local chocolatiers." The factory will introduce its own line of branded chocolate (SPIRITT) and other products, towards improving the value-added content of Trinidad and Tobago’s cocoa exports.

 Professor Pathmanathan Umaharan, Director of the CRC also addressed the audience at the opening ceremony.  He outlined the challenges facing the cocoa industry locally in Trinidad and Tobago and the work that the UWI Cocoa Research Centre has undertaken to overcome these challenges.  The results of the research, he indicated, will be shared by other presenters during the symposium. 

 Professor Umaharan then balanced his optimism with reality by saying that while much has already been accomplished and learnt, there is a long road ahead to attain cocoa industry success. For example, he noted that over the years 95% of the cocoa acreage has become abandoned and the yield per hectare in Trinidad's cocoa estates is just around one tenth of the yield of farms in some cocoa producing countries. As such, while the CRC will continue to do its part by leveraging the gene bank to create novel varieties, leveraging the innovation centre and chocolate factory to support SMEs to become export ready, there is a monumental task ahead in rebuilding the industry.   He reiterated that the University's role is one dimensional in "the national strategic plan that was developed with support from the FAO."  He advocated a triple helix model involving the Public Sector, Private Sector and the University is needed to rebuild the industry that once made cocoa as king.  

 The Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries later added the government's perspective on the works that the CRC and investors have already carried out. The Minister declared government's interest in revitalizing the cocoa industry and gave the assurance that they are “committed to scaling up the propagation and distribution of disease-resistant and high-yielding planting material, enhancing farmer training in integrated pest and disease management, investing in fermentaries and the value-added processing, strengthening traceability and quality assurance systems, promoting the adoption of climate-smart practices across the cocoa value chain.”

 The Minister launched proceedings on a high note by mentioning that government aims to start a Cocoa Investment Fund with the goal being to renew investment in the sector while providing incentives to young farmers and entrepreneurs.  

  

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About The University of the West Indies

 The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier higher education institution and one of only two regional universities in the world. With five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, The UWI continues to be a beacon of academic excellence, research innovation, and societal impact. Consistently ranked among the world’s best by Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI is a global leader in addressing critical challenges, including climate change, sustainability, and development.

 As The UWI St. Augustine Campus celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2025 under the theme Beyond 65: From the Caribbean, For the World, it pays tribute to its Caribbean roots while highlighting its contributions to solving global challenges. This milestone underscores the campus's significant role in producing ground-breaking research and fostering talent that transcends regional boundaries to shape a better world. The UWI St. Augustine’s researchers, academics, and graduates continue to make an international impact, exemplifying the university’s mission to serve the region while influencing the world.

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu 

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