Mars invests in Ecuador cocoa farm

Mars Chocolate has completed the purchase of Hacienda La Chola, a leading farm for cocoa yield and farm management practices, and the agricultural division of Naturisa. Located in Guayaquil, Ecuador, this farm will expand Mars’ network of research farms, which includes facilities in Brazil and Indonesia.

Together, these farms will allow Mars to scale up its robust plant science research and its practical experience, accelerating deployment of best farming practices and technologies to small holder farms around the world. This is an important and logical next step as Mars seeks to advance its sustainable cocoa initiative, build learning and expertise, and further its efforts to ensure a sustainable supply of quality cocoa, making it a crop of choice for generations of farmers.

Hacienda La Chola is dedicated to 485 hectares (just over 1,198 acres) of land for cocoa crops and another 84 hectares (just over 207 acres) for mango.

Andy Harner, vice president, global cocoa & sustainability at Mars, says, “By bringing together our plant science with the ability to test our findings at scale, we can increase our knowledge and understanding of how to bring these practices to the cocoa sector. This will be good for Mars, good for the cocoa sector, and good for the livelihoods of farmers around the world.”

Francisco Solá Medina, president at Naturisa, adds, “We are honoured that such a reputed global company as Mars has taken interest in the work that we have done for the last 20 years, and we think is great news for Ecuador and the future of its cocoa industry.”