The Next Generation

Solutions

Agronetica’s five CRISPR 2.0 solutions transform cacao’s existential threats into a scalable plan to rescue the industry.

Challenge No. 1

Climate Devastation &
Yield Collapse

Cacao cultivation contributes to deforestation in West Africa, which accounts for about 70% of global production. Traditional trees take at least 3-5 years to reach full production and need extensive land. Climate stress has reduced yields by around 30% in two years in vulnerable regions and drought has cut production by as much as 40%. As a result, farmers expand into forests to compensate, even as certification programmes enforce strict anti-deforestation standards.

The Solution

Using CRISPR 2.0, Agronetica develops compact, high-yield cacao trees with improved drought and heat tolerance, allowing stable production in climate-vulnerable regions while helping to break the deforestation cycle.

Challenge No. 2

High Caffeine Content

Cacao naturally contains caffeine. At high levels, caffeine can cause nervousness, sleep disruption and elevated heart rate and blood-pressure, especially in children and caffeine-sensitive consumers such as pregnant women, which limits market potential.

The Solution

Agronetica uses CRISPR to remove caffeine at the cacao seed level without chemical decaffeination, creating Super-Cacao chocolate with full flavor and health benefits for kids and caffeine-sensitive consumers..

Challenge No. 3

Child Labor Crisis

Global pressure is growing as major chocolate companies demand the elimination of child labor from supply chains. At least 1.5 million children work in hazardous conditions because:

Poverty forces families to depend on child labor

Manual harvesting is labor intensive

Farms are in remote areas with limited oversight

The Solution

Using CRISPR 2.0, we are developing cacao trees with jointless pods and a more determinate structure that allows full mechanized harvesting. This sharply reduces dependence on manual labor, including child labor, and improves farmer incomes through lower labor costs and more predictable harvests.

Challenge No. 4

Disease Devastation

Phytophthora pod rot destroys entire harvests, causing millions in losses annually. Viral infections and pests compound the crisis, with some regions experiencing 30-40% yield losses that push farming families into poverty. High production costs combined with low yields create a vicious cycle.

The Solution

CRISPR-edited resistance genes give strong protection against major diseases, reducing losses and stabilising yields. This offers a clear path to improved farmer profitability and greater economic stability.

Challenge No. 5

Heavy Metal Contamination

Cacao naturally absorbs toxic cadmium and lead from soils. Strict heavy metal limits, especially in the EU, block billions of dollars of exports and pose health concerns that threaten market access and brand reputation.

The Solution

Agronetica’s CRISPR-edited metal transport genes are designed to drastically reduce cadmium and lead uptake, keeping beans within regulatory limits and protecting access to premium export markets worth billions.

The Total Revolution

These five solutions don’t just solve problems – they rescue an entire industry from collapse.