Australian Cocoa: Seeking Partners to Scale Sustainable, Tech-Enabled Cocoa Production in Australia
Opportunity For
- Organisations interested in funding the scaling of sustainable cocoa production in Australia.
- Agri-tech innovators and technology providers with expertise in automation, crop science, and supply chain solutions.
- Research organisations seeking to collaborate on high-value, ethical, and climate-resilient cocoa supply chains.
Opportunity Description
Industry Challenge:
The global cocoa industry faces fundamental disruption and transformation, due to aging plantations, disease and climate change. Most cocoa is produced using minimal agri-science by small farmers in West Africa with poor yields of .7 tonnes per hectare. With rising demand for chocolate and declining and erratic cocoa production, there is a major opportunity for scalable, sustainable, and technologically advanced cocoa cultivation. Australian Cocoa aims to address these challenges by establishing the country’s first large-scale, broadacre cocoa industry, leveraging advanced agri-tech, improved cultivars, and ethical practices. There has been over 20 years of research and trials in Far North Queensland that demonstrate the opportunity to replace some of the $1B of cocoa imported into Australia each year.
Current Opportunity:
Australian Cocoa is seeking partners to help fund the next steps in the scaling of an existing successful cocoa plantation and dry bean processing factory. We also welcome research collaborations on cultivar development, mechanization (including automated harvesting and pruning), and digital agriculture. In return, partners will gain early access to a rapidly growing market, opportunities for IP co-development, and the chance to shape the future of cocoa in Australia and beyond.
Opportunity Background:
Australian Cocoa is led by an experienced team with backgrounds in agriculture, technology, and international business. The project draws on research from the AgriFutures Cocoa Industry Report and collaborates with leading consultants and universities. We have established relationships with industry bodies. Our initial development targets 1,000 hectares in Far North Queensland, with a focus on innovation and sustainability.
Potential Other Applications:
Technologies and solutions developed through this partnership may have broader applications in other perennial crops, horticulture, and agri-food supply chains. Mechanisation, digital monitoring, and sustainable farming practices piloted in cocoa could be adapted for use in coffee, tropical fruits, and other emerging industries, supporting Australia’s leadership in climate-smart agriculture and ethical supply chains.