Cocoa Research Institute

The Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) and the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) serve as the twin scientific engines of the West African cocoa sector, dedicated to maintaining the region's global dominance through advanced breeding and sustainability research. Headquartered in Tafo, CRIG operates under the Ghana Cocoa Board and is currently led by Acting Executive Director Dr. Kofi Owusu Domfeh (as of 2026), with a core mission of protecting Ghana’s "premium" bean status through innovations like the ultra-modern Fine Flavour Chocolate Laboratory and the management of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus. Meanwhile, CRIN, located in Ibadan and led by Executive Director Dr. Patrick Adebola, focuses on a broader mandate that includes cashew, kola, coffee, and tea, recently achieving milestones in solar-powered bean drying and the distribution of millions of hybrid seedlings to Nigerian farmers. Together, these institutes lead the implementation of the ARS-1000 sustainability standards, ensuring that West African cocoa remains traceable, deforestation-free, and resilient against the mounting pressures of climate change.