McLean, Virginia-based Mars Inc., the world’s largest candy maker, is investing in gene-editing technology to make cacao plants less vulnerable to disease and changes in climate patterns that have pushed prices to near record highs.

Mars has licensed gene editing tools for cacao research and development with biotech company Pairwise, a leader in CRISPR gene editing technology to tailor cacao crops to be stronger and more sustainable. It says the investment will accelerate the development of new crop traits.

Mars did not disclose the size of its investment nor terms of its partnership with Durham, North Carolina-based Pairwise.

Cocoa prices have more than doubled in the past two years, largely due to poor weather and disease in West Africa, the world’s largest supplier of cocoa.

“At Mar

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