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Read our Gro Cocoa newsletter
GRO-Cocoa is a twice-yearly cocoa newsletter funded by the US department of Agriculture. It aims to provide a forum for information exchange, and a platform for sharing ideas in the belief that fostering cooperation and collaboration will best allow progress to be achieved.
GRO-Cocoa’s primary focus is smallholder farmers, the mainstay of world cocoa production. As such, it particularly welcomes articles on research- and farmer-led research and training that delivers practical IPM solutions to pest and disease problems. It also publishes articles about other initiatives of direct importance to cocoa production.
We welcome contributions, and ideas for articles. Please contact the Editors: Sarah Thomas and Rebecca Murphy.
Dramatic approach to extension in Nigeria
Pesticide use manual gets its first update
How copper fungicides affect soil fauna
Why isn’t azadirachtin more widely used?
Developing endophytes as disease control agents
Issue 15 June 2009 (437KB, PDF) In this issue: How farmers communicate - a sociological perspective - FFS, research and extension - Cuprous oxide in cocoa rehabilitation - Tackling CSSV in Ghana - Genotypes, environment and climate change - Gates Foundation and ACIAR: new initiatives - Post-ICRC specialist meetings
Issue 14 December 2008 (501KB, PDF)
In this issue: More on metalaxyl and the EU - Microsatellite study identifies new cocoa groups - How Nigeria is rehabilitating its cocoa - Looking forward for Latin American cocoa - Advances and challenges with witches' broom - New farmers' manual - News on COPAL ICRC 2009
Issue 13 June 2008 (526KB, PDF)
In this issue: Assessing weaver ants for biocontrol in Ghana - Disease resistance in French Guianan wild cocoa - Improving cocoa farmer livelihoods in the long term - Developing a certified cocoa programme - Helping West Africa adapt to new EU cocoa regulations - Introducing a new ICCO pesticide use manual
Issue 12 December 2007 (443KB, PDF)
In this issue: Potential of Trichoderma in Cocoa disease biocontrol - Côte d’Ivoire meeting on Invasive threats to cocoa - DNA tools for monitoring diseases - Organic cocoa: growth of a new Maya empire
Issue 11 June 2007 (473KB, PDF)
In this issue: CATIE researches the many shades of agroforestry - Striking a balance for intensification in Sulawesi - India plans for the future and climate change - Bahia’s cocoa systems rooted in the soil - Cocoa club plans road maps
Issue 10 December 2006 (364KB, PDF) In this issue: Research needs identified at the 15th ICRC - Meeting new European pesticide residue regulations - CacaoNet launched - Lessons from Sulawesi in participatory research - A potential role for mycorrhizal fungi. Issue 9 June 2006 (699KB, PDF) In this issue: Invasives break new ground: Frosty pod rot in Mexico - Cocoa pod borer in PNG - The Global Plant Clinic in Central Africa - Screening for P. megakarya resistance in Ghana - Launching a cocoa farmers' newspaper in Ghana - Ecotourism initiatives: Community tourism in Ghana - restoring Tobago's heritage - History with quality in Grenada.. Issue 8 December 2005 (584KB, PDF) In this issue: ISO on commercial sustainability - Can West African cocoa be sustainable? - Building a sustainable cocoa sector in Vietnam - WCF community initiative in West Africa - Taxonomy solves pathology puzzle. Issue 7 June 2005 (923KB, PDF) In this issue: A good deal to Fairtrade - Nigerian cocoa's growing - Shade issue isn't clear cut - Phytopthora causing canker - What's new online and in print. Issue 6 December 2004 (338KB, PDF) In this issue: COPAL working for farmers - To spray or not to spray? - Seed gardens: potential for growth - Intermediate quarantine at Reading - Biopesticide at large in Brazil - STCP communicates about methods Issue 5 June 2004 (347KB, PDF) A manufacturer's view of quality: the chain of responsibility - Trinidad & Tobago's past and continuing reputation for quality - CIRAD unravelling the complex components of quality - Cocoa agroforestry enhancing biodiversity and quality of life in Ghana Issue 4 December 2003 (378KB, PDF) Reports from Accra: 14th ICRC. INCOPED & INGENIC - CRIG meets farmers' needs - On-farm selection in Brazil - Tricks with Trichoderma - New resources Issue 3 June 2003 (387KB, PDF) Local approach to improving cocoa in Indonesia - PRIMA Cocoa: integrated control & the cocoa chain - Power of combining databases - Second endophyte meeting - Field schools for cocoa in Africa - Little-known threats: pink disease - How big is a pod? Issue 2 December 2002 (402KB, PDF) Managing frosty pod rot - Frosty pod's secret life - Focus on Cameroon - Phytophthora infection mechanisms - Recognising vertebrate signs - Conference update Issue 1 June 2002 (480KB, PDF) World's worst diseases and pests - Potential for endophytes - Rational pesticide use - W African IPM initiative - SE Asia country visits - Sulawesi's success with IPM - Information column