University of California, Davis joins new federal coffee and cacao research lab

The University of California, Davis is participating in a new federal research initiative focused on coffee and cacao, according to Hawaii News Now. The project is led by the University of Hawaii at Manoa, which received up to $8 million for the first year to establish the Coffee and Cacao Innovation Lab.

The lab aims to support small farmers across Hawaii, the continental U.S., Latin America, Africa, and Asia by improving crop reliability through breeding disease- and drought-resistant varieties, enhancing farm management, and refining processing techniques, Hawaii News Now reported.

The initiative also involves several other partners, including Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Mars, and various agricultural organizations, according to Daily Coffee News. The goal is to secure resilient supplies of coffee and chocolate, which are significant to the U.S. economy and employment.

The National Coffee Association highlighted that coffee supports over 2.2 million U.S. jobs and contributes more than $343 billion annually to the economy. Chocolate sales generate $28.4 billion and support 700,000 jobs, per information from the University of Hawaii Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.

The lab's work will provide economic data to help governments make informed investments in agricultural research, supporting the sustainability of these key crops, Hawaii News Now added.