Lindau, Germany — Encouraging discussion about the impact science can have on society, Mars, Inc. is sponsoring an interdisciplinary panel at the annual Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings in Germany.

The supplier sponsored seven U.S. researchers to participate in the global forum along with Nobel Laureates, aiming to inspire future generations to pursue innovation, according to the company.

Science can be used to advance sustainability and harnessed as an economic and social driver in the world’s poorest regions, according to Mars’ Howard Shapiro, global staff officer of plant science and external research. Shapiro, an event speaker, currently leads the company’s team in sequencing the cocoa genome, which he says would simplify the process of breeding cocoa plants with beneficial characteristics.