International Cocoa Quarantine Centre

International Cocoa Quarantine Centre
AbbreviationICQC
Formation1985; 39 years ago (1985)
PurposeTo reduce the amount of disease affecting cocoa plants
HeadquartersArborfield
Coordinates51°24′25.19″N 0°55′26.98″W / 51.4069972°N 0.9241611°W / 51.4069972; -0.9241611
Parent organization
University of Reading
WebsiteWebsite of the International Cocoa Quarantine Centre

The International Cocoa Quarantine Centre (ICQC), located in Arborfield, a suburb of Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom, is an organization aiming to reduce the amount of disease affecting cocoa plants. Cocoa plants are quarantined in a 1,000-square-metre (11,000 sq ft) greenhouse before being transported across the globe.[1][2][3][4][5] Quarantining cocoa plants is considered important because over 70% of the global cocoa supply originates from West Africa, and therefore the cocoa market is susceptible to any catastrophic effects that should occur in that region.

The ICQC is part of the University of Reading.[6][7][8] It was founded in 1985.

References

  1. ^ "British 'chocolate greenhouse' saving the world's cocoa". Yahoo News. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  2. ^ Nicola Twilley (4 May 2015). "Preventing a Future Without Chocolate". The New Yorker. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  3. ^ Webb, Jonathan (2 January 2015). "Facility opens to safeguard the future of chocolate". BBC News. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  4. ^ "British 'chocolate greenhouse' saving the world's cocoa". CTV News. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  5. ^ Ari Shapiro (15 March 2015). "The Fate Of The World's Chocolate Depends On This Spot In Rural England". WCAI. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  6. ^ "The Fate Of The World's Chocolate Depends On This Spot In Rural England". NPR. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Securing the future of chocolate – new home for Reading's Cocoa Quarantine Centre". University of Reading. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Cold cocoa". The Economist. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.