"Early detection allows farmers to preserve unaffected parts of their plantations, reducing the need to clear new land for cocoa trees."

Sanja Fabrio, your LinkedIn profile mentions that you believe innovation through collaboration is key to a progressive society. Could you elaborate on this?

As individuals, our capabilities are limited, no matter how innovative or smart we may be. Real progress—whether in business or society—happens when we combine our strengths, work together, and learn from one another to tackle problems. I've worked with both large multinationals and startups. I've seen that companies competing in any industry can progress faster and more effectively when they collaborate. This is especially true when facing common challenges, like the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD). By joining forces, we can create solutions that benefit everyone. The recent innovation to combat CSSVD is a great example of this collaborative approach.

You’re referring to the CSSVD detection test developed by SwissDeCode. How does this test help?

The first advantage of the DNAFoil CSSVD test is its speed and reliability. It detects the presence of the virus in a cocoa leaf right on the farm within an hour. This early detection is crucial, especially since infected trees can appear healthy for up to two years while still spreading the disease. The tool is portable, doesn’t require cold storage, and can be easily used by cocoa farmers after a short training. By identifying the virus early, farmers can take steps to prevent further spread, protecting their crops and livelihoods.

Why is it critical to monitor cocoa nurseries for the virus?

Monitoring nurseries should be a starting point because the virus can "hide" in seedlings. If these infected seedlings are planted, they can introduce the disease to new areas, including other countries. To prevent this, it's essential to identify and remove infected seedlings before they reach the farms.

It's essential to identify and remove infected seedlings before they reach the farms.

This is particularly important for farmers who have already gone through the painful process of cutting and replanting their trees due to CSSVD. We must ensure that new plantings are healthy to avoid repeating the cycle of devastation.

What steps should be taken if the test identifies infected trees?

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for CSSVD. The only way to stop the spread is through remediation campaigns — cutting down infected trees and replanting with healthy ones.

The only way to stop the spread is through remediation campaigns — cutting down infected trees and replanting with healthy ones.

After replanting, creating barriers from a crop that is not a host for the virus or adopting agroforestry practices can help protect the new trees from infection. Agroforestry, where different tree species coexist, reduces tree density, which naturally slows down mealybugs—tiny insects that spread the virus by moving from one cocoa tree to another.

Does agroforestry benefit the health of cocoa trees?

If managed well, agroforestry creates a more stable environment for the trees, improving soil health and overall resilience. Climate change puts additional stress on cocoa trees, making them more vulnerable to diseases. It also helps slow down CSSD spread but we must ensure that only non-host trees are planted in an agroforestry system, otherwise, we can unwittingly help mealybugs to spread the virus further.    

What is SwissDeCode’s main mission?

Our mission is to empower farmers, commodity traders, and food manufacturers by providing rapid testing and certification solutions that ensure high-quality, authentic food products. Our DNAFoil technology, for example, can verify authenticity claims or detect the presence of undesirable species in a variety of contexts, from plant health to supply chain traceability. It’s designed to be used by non-scientists, making it accessible right where it’s needed—whether in the field or a factory.

What makes fighting CSSVD so challenging?

The biggest challenge is the cost of the remediation campaigns and the difficulty of convincing farmers to cut down trees that may not yet show symptoms. Farmers rely on these trees for their income, even if the yield is reduced. However, if the disease is left unchecked, they risk losing everything, which can lead to deforestation as they seek new land to cultivate.

Farmers rely on the trees for their income, even if the yield is reduced. However, if the disease is left unchecked, they risk losing everything, which can lead to deforestation as they seek new land to cultivate.

Governments and farmers of cocoa-producing countries both need financial support to manage these remediation efforts, as newly planted trees take years to become productive.

CSSVD causes significant cocoa harvest losses. What are the broader implications of these losses?

The latest numbers shared by the Cocoa Health & Extension Division (CHED) in Ghana indicate that the disease has infected 81% of one of Ghana's largest cocoa-growing regions (Western North). The disease is spreading rapidly, and adjacent regions are at high risk. This not only impacts cocoa prices but also threatens the livelihoods of farming communities. The financial burden on farmers and the government is immense, especially since remediated farms take years to become productive again.

Fighting CSSVD is one of the six key areas in which the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa collaborates with Ghana. How is SwissDeCode working with Ghana to combat CSSVD?

We’re working closely with the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to roll out our CSSVD test. The first phase of the project has been completed, and we’re now discussing the next steps to make the test widely available and affordable. Our goal is to involve both government and private sector partners to ensure that all cocoa cooperatives can benefit from early detection and protection against the virus.

Can your project already show signs of success?

While there’s no cure for CSSVD, we aim to map the full extent of the virus’s spread, beyond just visible symptoms. This information is crucial for implementing a systematic cut-replant-monitor cycle in infected areas. Additionally, integrating best practices like testing nurseries, planting non-host crops, and ongoing monitoring will help contain the virus and mitigate its impact on deforestation. Early detection allows farmers to preserve unaffected parts of their plantations, reducing the need to clear new land for cocoa trees.

Early detection allows farmers to preserve unaffected parts of their plantations, reducing the need to clear new land for cocoa trees.

This kind of deforestation driven by the poverty of farmers is a growing concern. What role can actors in the cocoa value chain play in helping to mitigate this issue?

Our tool can act as a risk management system. Cocoa importers need to know if their suppliers’ fields are infected, as the presence of the virus is a leading indicator of potential deforestation. This proactive approach could significantly curb farmer-driven deforestation, which needs to be accounted for under new regulations like the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

The so-called witches' broom disease is known from the cacao-producing regions of South America. In recent years, this cocoa disease has also been discovered in Angola. What would its spread to West Africa mean?

If witches' broom disease were to spread to West Africa, it could result in further significant production losses and hit hard the region that is already devastated by CSSVD. Strict controls are therefore in place to prevent the transfer of diseases between regions. Authorities are very careful when planting material is transported from one country to another. It is very important to not transmit diseases that are endemic in one region to another.

How can other members of the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa benefit from your CSSVD detection project?

Many ask us, “Do you know how far the disease has spread?” To answer this, we plan to map the virus’s reach across cocoa-growing regions. This data, powered by a collaborative, pre-competitive approach, will be valuable to everyone in the cocoa value chain. We are therefore calling on all to join forces and help deliver a better understanding of the real boundaries of the virus.

We are calling on all to join forces and help deliver a better understanding of the real boundaries of the virus.

By working together, we can achieve the shared goal of curbing the spread of CSSVD and ensuring that only virus-free seedlings reach farmers.

What advice would you give to a member of the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa that sources cocoa from an affected region?

First, assess whether the virus is present in your supply chain. If it is, understand how far it has spread and work with local authorities, like Ghana Cocoa Board-COCOBOD, to remediate it. All actors in the value chain need to be aware of the conditions in their sourcing areas. This awareness is crucial for both short-term economic forecasts and long-term sustainability. Supporting farmer cooperatives through this process is key to protecting the livelihoods of those who grow the cocoa we depend on.

Do you have other projects in the pipeline to combat cocoa diseases?

Yes, we’re launching a new project in collaboration with the Cocoa Platform's member Polyplants and several industry leaders. This initiative focuses on identifying disease-resistant and climate change-resilient cocoa varieties. It’s a long-term solution aimed at boosting productivity and helping farmers adapt to climate change. By planting seedlings that are resistant to diseases and drought, we can ensure a more sustainable future for cocoa production.

By planting seedlings that are resistant to diseases and drought, we can ensure a more sustainable future for cocoa production.

Climate change is a risk for cocoa production. Can science help in identifying the most climate-resilient cocoa varieties?

Yes. We know today that climate change is stressing cocoa trees, making them more susceptible to diseases. Work on developing disease-resistant varieties therefore must consider environmental changes and focus on drought tolerance and root depth. The goal is to find cocoa varieties that are resilient to climate change, resistant to diseases, and productive. If we can achieve this, it will be a game-changer for the sector.

The goal is to find cocoa varieties that are resilient to climate change, resistant to diseases, and productive. If we can achieve this, it will be a game-changer for the sector.

But it’s a long-term effort that requires collective action. The time to act is now, and while we don’t have all the answers yet, we have the tools to make a real difference.