Cacao fruit might be the source of cocoa beans but it can be used for more than dessert-y type foods. From pasta infusions to dying shoes, here's the score.

From California to Israel, companies are aiming to grow cocoa beyond the tropics in a bid to buffer chocolate's key ingredient from climate change.

Cocoa trees grow about 20 degrees north and south of the equator in regions with warm weather and abundant rain, including West Africa and South America.

The facility hosts a living collection of cocoa trees so scientists can study what makes them disease-resistant to help farmers in producing countries and ensure a stable supply of beans.

Cocoa beans are the fermented seed of the cacao tree. Pictured, pods growing on cacao trees at the Maui Ku’ia Estate cacao farm, in Lahaina, Hawaii.

California Cultured, a plant cell culture company, is growing cocoa from cell cultures at a facility in West Sacramento with plans to start selling its products next year.

Cocoa beans are the fermented seed of the cacao tree. Pictured, pods growing on cacao trees at the Maui Ku’ia Estate cacao farm, in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Cocoa trees grow about 20 degrees north and south of the equator in regions with warm weather and abundant rain, including West Africa and South America.

Climate change is stressing rainforests where the highly sensitive cocoa bean grows, but chocolate lovers need not despair, say companies that are researching other ways to grow cocoa or develop ...