CROP PROFILE / CACAO
Cacao
Theobroma cacao
BLOOMYear-round / seasonal peaks
REGIONSTropical production regions
POLLINATORSTiny midges and other small flies
MEASUREMENT
What to measure
Flower visitation → successful pollen transfer → pod set
WEATHER
What can go wrong
Humidity, shade, litter moisture, and microhabitat strongly influence pollinator populations.
DIAGNOSIS
How to troubleshoot
Bee-focused monitoring is inappropriate here; use flower-to-pod outcomes and midge habitat/abundance instead.
TECHNOLOGY
Relevant tools
- Microclimate sensing
- Small-insect trapping
- Computer vision research
- Pod-set monitoring