Amid a supply disruption in the global cocoa industry, fueled by extreme weather and crop diseases, a Trinidad and Tobago-based company aims to leverage artificial intelligence to provide Caribbean farmers with tools to help enhance their crop yields and access to financing.

Founder and Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Fine Cocoa Company Limited (TTFCC), Ashley Parasram, who pitched the project at the Climate Smart Summit in Bridgetown on Wednesday, said the firm is currently working with two AI firms to develop the model.

He explained that the initiative seeks to convert years of cocoa research on pests, diseases and production techniques into easy-to-use tools for farmers who often lack direct access to technical information.