International research collaborations in cacao pollination ecology
Research across cacao-growing regions
Our research on cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) pollination ecology began with pilot studies in Central America and has since expanded to major cacao-producing regions in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. Through international collaborations, we investigate how pollinator communities, agricultural management and environmental conditions interact to influence cacao pollination and associated ecosystem services.
Cacao originated in the tropical forests of South America, particularly the Amazon basin, where archaeological evidence indicates its use more than 5,000 years ago. It also has a long history of cultivation and cultural importance in Central America, making the Neotropics a particularly relevant region for studying cacao and its interactions with flower-visiting insects.
Our research combines field-based ecological studies with molecular approaches, including DNA barcoding, to improve our understanding of the insects associated with cacao flowers. By comparing geographically distinct cultivation systems, we aim to identify the ecological factors that shape pollinator diversity and contribute to sustainable cacao production.
Our international research partners
Central America — CATIE, Costa Rica
Our initial research on cacao pollination dynamics was conducted in Central America in collaboration with CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza), an international research and higher education institution based in Costa Rica.
CATIE has extensive expertise in tropical agriculture, agroforestry, biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management. Its research on cacao-based agroforestry systems provides an important foundation for investigating interactions between agricultural practices, pollinators and ecosystem functioning.
Our principal collaborators are Prof. Norvin Sepúlveda and Prof. Eduardo Somarriba, whose expertise includes tropical agroforestry, forest ecology and sustainable cacao production.
Côte d’Ivoire — Landscape Alliance and Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny
In Côte d’Ivoire, one of the world’s most important cacao-producing countries, we collaborate with Landscape Alliance (formerly CIFOR-ICRAF) and Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
Our principal collaborators are Dr. Christophe Kouamé and Prof. Jean-Claude N’Zi.
Within a multi-year research project, we investigate how cacao plantation management, including insecticide use, affects local food webs, insect communities and ecosystem services.
A central objective is to improve our understanding of the ecological consequences of agricultural intensification, including potential effects on pollinators and other beneficial arthropods. This research contributes to identifying management practices that balance cacao production with biodiversity conservation and the maintenance of essential ecosystem functions.
Cameroon — University of Dschang
In Cameroon, we collaborate with the University of Dschang (Université de Dschang) and Prof. Marie Caroline Momo Solefack, whose research expertise encompasses tropical plant ecology, biodiversity and agroforestry systems.
Together, we have conducted a pilot study investigating relationships between plantation microclimate and the abundance of potential cacao pollinators.
Our work explores how local environmental conditions within plantations may influence insect communities associated with cacao flowers. Understanding these relationships is relevant to evaluating how plantation structure and management might affect pollinator habitat and the resilience of cacao agroecosystems.
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Malaysia — Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
In Malaysia, we collaborate with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), particularly Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jamilah Mohd Salim and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nor Zalipah Mohamed.
Our collaboration extends our research to Southeast Asia, allowing us to study cacao-associated insects in a region where the crop was introduced outside its native Neotropical range.
The work focuses on cacao flower visitors and potential pollinators, contributing to a broader comparison of insect communities across geographically separated cacao-growing regions.
By integrating observations from Southeast Asia with those from the Neotropics and Africa, we aim to better understand which aspects of cacao pollination ecology are shared across cultivation regions and which may depend on local insect communities and environmental conditions.
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Towards a global understanding of cacao pollination
A major challenge in cacao pollination research is identifying the insects that actually transfer pollen between flowers. While many arthropods visit cacao flowers, not all necessarily function as effective pollinators.
Our expanding research network provides opportunities to combine ecological observations with molecular identification methods, including DNA barcoding, to investigate the diversity and identity of cacao-associated insects across cultivation regions.
Ultimately, our goal is to better understand the ecological processes underlying cacao pollination and to provide scientific knowledge that can support biodiversity-friendly plantation management and sustainable cacao production.
