Mars acquires Ecuador’s 485ha cocoa farm

US food company Mars Chocolate has completed the acquisition of the 485ha Hacienda La Chola farm in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

An agricultural subsidiary of Naturisa, Hacienda La Chola is known for its cocoa yield and farm management practices.

The farm will be used by Mars to conduct its plant science research, as well as expand the company’s network of research farms with facilities in Brazil and Indonesia.

The acquisition will help the company progress in its Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, which aims at ensuring an enhanced supply of high-quality cocoa.

Hacienda La Chola uses latest technology and farm management techniques to cultivate a wide variety of cocoa.

Mars global cocoa and 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."

Hacienda La Chola uses 485ha of land for the cultivation of cocoa crops, while another 84ha is used for mango cultivation.

Naturisa president Francisco Sola Medina said: "We are honoured that such a reputed global company as Mars has taken interest in the work that we have done for the last 20 years."

Hacienda La Chola was established in 1995 by Naturisa owner Francisco Sola Medina, which was initially a shrimp farming operation.

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Image: Ecuador’s Hacienda La Chola cultivates a large variety of cocoa. Photo: courtesy of Mars.