CORUS International is a US based international development organization which among others has a focus on resilience, sustainable adaptation to climate change and strengthening of value chains in specialty markets such as cocoa and coffee. Representing the organization, Mr. Paul Macek (Associate Vice President for Rural Economies and Agricultural Livelihoods, CORUS Int.) and his colleague, Erica Wahl, made a visit to CRIN on 16 March, 2022 to seek partnership with CRIN on cocoa research and development project to be sponsored by USAID.

Pual Macek expressed his pleasure and confident in working with CRIN based on the projects he earlier implemented in Nigeria through CRIN when he was the Global Vice President of Programs at the World Cocoa Foundation. The projects implemented by World Cocoa Foundation / African Cocoa Initiative (WCF/ACI) include the establishment of cocoa seed gardens and budwood gardens in Nigeria, genetic fingerprinting of cacao in Nigeria genebanks and the Cocoa Flavor Quality Laboratory (FQL) at CRIN. He expressed great joy to see the CRIN FQL functioning and standing out among the best centres of excellence in the global cocoa research.

Dr. Amos Famaye, who led CRIN team to welcome the visitors to the Institute, assured CORUS International that CRIN door is open to collaboration with any organisation that will enhance the development of cocoa industry and impact the livelihood of farmers in Nigeria.