Pending regulatory approval and closing conditions, the acquisition will expand Cargill’s footprint in the Asia-Pacific region.

Cargill has entered into a multi-year research agreement with AeroFarms, a leader in controlled environment agriculture, aimed at improving cocoa bean yields and developing more climate-resistant agricultural practices.

“In developing our new Signature Origins products, we searched the cocoa-growing regions of the world to bring chefs chocolate with unique flavor profiles that truly stand apart from current gourmet offerings,” said Wim Bastiaens, Cargill’s gourmet and distribution director.

European consumers look for products with sustainability credentials and are willing to pay more for brands that invest in environmental or social initiatives that align with their beliefs, new research from Cargill reveals.

Cargill has launched CocoaWise, a digital portal that allows food and beverage manufacturers to have increased knowledge of the origin of the products they source from Cargill’s direct supply chain.