WCF will place fellows within American universities and/or research institutions. In order that visiting scientists be exposed to the entire cocoa supply chain, fellows will also have the opportunity to visit WCF member companies' manufacturing plants and/or research facilities during their six-week training. After the completion of the fellowship, the U.S.-based mentor scientists will travel to Africa and Central America to meet with the fellows and their colleagues at their home institutions.

Project mentors Dr. Robert D. Lumsden, Scientific Advisor, WCF and Dr. Prakash Hebbar, Senior Scientist, Mars Inc. state that "This fellowship initiative will encourage scientist to scientist collaboration and institutional capacity building that will strengthen agricultural practices in cacao cultivation, specifically to improve crop yield, disease management and cocoa quality. This will not only help improve production in the world's principal cocoa-producing area, West Africa, but also in the Central American Region so dramatically affected in recent years by devastating diseases that have reduced production to historically low levels in this area of the 'origin' of cacao cultivation."

"USDA is pleased to partner with the World Cocoa Foundation to help African and Central American countries increase agricultural productivity, strengthen sustainable agricultural practices, and stimulate economic growth through this Borlaug Fellows initiative," said USDA Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Mark E. Keenum. "This initiative will build stronger agricultural, commercial, and trade ties between the United States and the Borlaug Fellows' countries."

Millions of people in West Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America depend on cocoa farming for their living. The prevalence of pests and diseases, among other issues, are an obstacle to cocoa production and significant source of crop losses in all three cocoa growing regions. In Latin America alone, farmers can lose up to 60% or more of their cocoa crop to diseases and pests. WCF supports research efforts and training programs to further the economic, social and environmental sustainability of cocoa production.

Established in 2000, the World Cocoa Foundation plays a leading role in facilitating public-private partnerships to benefit cocoa farming communities through training programs and research. WCF is an industry-supported, non-profit organization representing over 60 chocolate companies and trade associations around the world that account for over 65% of chocolate manufactured. Members are from Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia representing all components of the supply chain. The Foundation's programs focus on raising farmer incomes, improving community wellbeing and supporting environmental sustainability.

For more information about the World Cocoa Foundation, or to find out how you can help support cocoa farming communities, contact Bill Guyton at (703) 790-5012 or via e-mail at Bill.Guyton@worldcocoa.org. Also, visit the WCF online at: www.WorldCocoaFoundation.org.