Genetics researchers target cadmium reduction in cacao

The 28th annual International Conference on the Status of Plant and Animal Genome Research took place Jan. 11-15, in San Diego, and the Jan. 12 cacao genomics workshop included a presentation on the attempt to reduce the cadmium content of the bean used for chocolate.

Jim Dunwell of the University of Reading in the United Kingdom addressed the situation including potential solutions in “Molecular Genetic Approaches to Reducing Cadmium Accumulation in Cocoa.” Dunwell said that the European Union recently implemented a cadmium limit which took effect in January 2019.

“During the processing of ch...