Cocoa
Australia is a fully owned Australian company formed
to promote the growing of Theobroma cacao (cocoa) in Northern
Australia.
Initial research has shown that areas of northern Queensland
have the soil types, rainfall patterns and annual
temperature
ranges
required for growing cocoa. These coupled with development
of efficient growing, harvesting and processing technologies
offer
a high probability
for the successful establishment of a commercial cocoa
industry in the region. Cocoa grown in Australia not only
provides
an opportunity for import replacement (approx. $200M
per year of cocoa products
are imported into Australia for use in confectionery
manufacture) but will also capitalise on the synergies of
combining locally
grown cocoa, sugar and dairy products to produce a
range of
genuine "made
in Australia" chocolate products. These products will also
take advantage of the "clean, green" image
of this part of Australia in marketing products domestically
and
internationally. Cocoa Australia's objective is to
encourage and support farmers
who wish to diversify into cocoa and to provide them
with proven planting material and technical assistance
on all
aspects of
cocoa
growing.
