Aceh, Indonesia — A new $6.8 million pilot program in Indonesia will implement science-based initiatives to improve cocoa output and farm-level conditions, according to Mars Symbioscience, a division of Mars, Inc.

During the nearly two years the program is expected to run, more than 12,000 farmers will be trained in an effort to boost productivity by 50 to 75 percent, the company states.

“Increasing cocoa production and therefore increasing farmer income is a critical goal at Mars,” according to Ian Pople, Indonesia country manager for Mars Symbioscience.

Also collaborating on the program with Mars is the World Cocoa Foundation, SwissContact, a privately held economic development organization and Armajaro Trading Ltd, a commodities firm.