The European Union (EU) has invested €5.5 million ($6.3 million) in the Coco-AI project, an initiative that combines artificial intelligence (AI) and plant cell culture technology to develop a more sustainable way of producing cocoa ingredients. The project aims to reduce pressure on traditional cocoa supply chains while creating new opportunities for climate-resilient food production.
Supported through the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, Coco-AI is focused on developing a plant cell culture platform capable of producing high-value ingredients in bioreactors. The project has a total investment of €6.3 million ($7.2 million) and is coordinated by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Fraunhofer IME), with nine partners from Europe, Israel, Canada, and South Korea.
The technology uses cocoa plant cells grown in nutrient-rich liquid inside bioreactors rather than relying solely on traditional farming. These cells can produce natural cocoa compounds that may be processed into ingredients such as cocoa powder and cocoa butter without requiring large-scale cultivation of cocoa trees.
Artificial intelligence will play a key role in improving the efficiency of the process. Researchers will use AI tools to analyze large amounts of biological data, identify patterns, optimize growing conditions, and accelerate experiments. The technology is intended to support scientists rather than replace them, helping develop more reliable and cost-effective production methods.
Over the four-year project, researchers plan to scale cell-based cocoa production from 50-litre pilot systems to 10,000-litre industrial bioreactors. The initiative will also evaluate production costs, commercial viability, environmental impacts, and regulatory requirements while developing new cocoa-based ingredient formulations and prototype chocolate products.
The investment comes as the global cocoa industry faces growing challenges from climate change, crop diseases, and supply disruptions. Extreme weather conditions have affected major cocoa-producing regions such as Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, contributing to supply concerns and higher cocoa prices.
Beyond cocoa, Coco-AI aims to demonstrate the wider potential of plant cell culture technology. The project will also explore applications for other plant species, including grapes, oats, and medicinal plants, while creating open-source AI tools and datasets to support future innovation in the sector.
By advancing AI-driven biomanufacturing, the Coco-AI project seeks to strengthen food supply resilience, reduce dependence on vulnerable agricultural systems, and support Europe’s broader sustainability and bioeconomy goals.
