Mars Chocolate has completed the acquisition of Hacienda La Chola cocoa farm in Ecuador from Naturisa.
Hacienda La Chola is the agricultural unit of Naturisa and located in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
The latest addition to its network of research farms is expected to help the confectionery company to increase its plant science research and its practical experience, boosting deployment of best farm practices and technologies to small holder farms across the globe.
The latest move by Mars signals its intentions to advance its Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, strengthen its learning and expertise and improve its efforts for supply of sustainable cocoa, thus making it a crop of choice for future generations of farmers.
Hacienda La Chola has a dedicated 485 hectares of land for cocoa crops and another 84 hectares for mango.
Mars global cocoa & sustainability vice president Andy Harner said: "By bringing together our plant science with the ability to test our findings at scale, we can increase our knowledge and understanding of how to bring these practices to the cocoa sector.
"This will be good for Mars, good for the cocoa sector, and good for the livelihoods of farmers around the world."
Naturisa president Francisco Solá Medina said: "We are honored that such a reputed global company as Mars has taken interest in the work that we have done for the last twenty years, and we think is great news for Ecuador and the future of its cocoa industry."
Hacienda La Chola farm was established in 1995 when the owner of Naturisa Francisco Solá Medina leveraged a new irrigation system installed in Cerecita to supply the Santa Elena Peninsula.
Image: Hacienda La Chola has a dedicated 485 hectares of land for cocoa crops. Photo: Courtesy of Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates.
