NEW research conducted into ways to increase cacao bean yields has found an ally in nature.
James Cook University team member, Samantha Forbes, showed that green ants didn’t deter midge pollinators away from the cacao flowers and, by hand-pollinating some trees, she demonstrated that the main benefit of adding cacao husks was through increased pollination.
Team leader Dr Tobin Northfield said it was a simple and effective technique.
“There are many other insects using the rotting cacao husks as habitat, that likely serve as prey for larger predators like spiders and skinks,” Mr Northfield said.
“So, adding cacao husks is a simple management technique that simultaneously improves pollination and pest control, while practising species conservation.”
The scientists said their research showed a simple habitat manipulation can enhance both species conservation and pollination in cacao plantations.
But multiple-year studies would be useful to evaluate whether the ‘win-win’ combination could be sustained long term.
Far North Queensland cocoa grower, Gerard Puglisi, says the new harvest research will help boost yields in the industry.
Mr Puglisi grows two hectares of cocoa on his property at Mossman.
He participated in research trials conducted by James Cook University’s Centre for Terrestrial Environmental and Sustainability Science.
“It will help to increase our yields with very little input costs because we are using byproducts of the cocoa trees,” Mr Puglisi said.
“It’s putting husks from the cocoa process back under our trees which can increase our yield without as much financial output; perhaps a little bit more physical work.”
The centre’s graduate Samantha Forbes said the addition of cacao husks below trees, which normally would be discarded, dramatically increased pollination rates and increased the abundance of predators that may help control pests.
The transformation from cacao flowers to fruit pods containing beans used for chocolate production relies on small midges that develop in decomposing organic matter.
“This simple change tripled the number of fruits, and quadrupled the yield harvested per tree,” she said.
Mr Puglisi estimated the research could double commercial yields.
“You are getting more money for the same amount of work,” he said.
