News in brief: Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry has confirmed the presence of the destructive cocoa mild mosaic virus (CaMMV) in Bahia, the country’s largest cocoa-producing state, potentially jeopardizing its cocoa industry.
Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry has confirmed the presence of the cocoa mild mosaic virus (CaMMV) in orchards in the country’s largest producing state, Bahia. It said that it has sent samples of the plants to a laboratory in the United States for testing, and the results were positive.
CaMMV is an invasive virus that can cause significant damage to cocoa crops, leading to losses in productivity. It has no cure, so infected areas are typically destroyed to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Brazilian Agriculture Ministry said it is working on a plan to deal with the situation in Bahia. Brazil is the seventh largest cocoa producer in the world, and the crop has been expanding in recent years. It holds the second spot in producing the chocolate key ingredient outside of Africa and Asia, behind Ecuador.
However, the country is still a net importer of cocoa beans. The discovery of CaMMV in Bahia could have a significant impact on its cocoa industry. Studies have shown that the virus can cause a reduction in pod weight by 10% in some cases.
