The National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIAP) donated, through the Embassy of Ecuador in Spain, cloned plants of the fine and aromatic cacao tree to the Royal Botanical Garden (RJB) of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) in Madrid.

The supplied plants will be part of an interactive exhibition, dedicated to the origin and history of the cacao tree, an event that will take place in June 2024 in Madrid, to position Ecuador as the country of origin of the fine aroma cacao tree.

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Furthermore, according to Iniap, these materials, whose scientific names are INIAP-EETP 800 Aroma Pichilingue and INIAP-EETP 801 Fino Pichilingue, represent an important act for Ecuador that will enable the strengthening of relations for future scientific research between both nations.

Ambassador of Ecuador Andrés Vallejo noted that a collaboration project will be established with the Royal Botanical Garden so that its visitors can learn about the history hidden in this ancient fruit through an interactive exhibition of the cocoa tree in 2024.

Through these cocoa materials, sensory properties and distinguishing properties will be revealed for the production of products such as chocolate. In addition, expand the story of the multiple uses of this fruit in pre-Hispanic cultures, which used it as currency in exchange and as an offering in funeral rituals among other ceremonies.

According to the director of RJB-CSIC, María Paz Martín, this donation increases the collection of living plants in the Santiago Castroviejo greenhouse and strengthens the scientific and historical relations that traditionally exist between Ecuador and Spain.

The cocoa trees arrived at RJB at the end of September and after the acclimatization process will become part of the collection exhibited in the Royal Botanical Garden.