Chocolate production is declining due to climate change and disease, threatening global supply. Ecuador’s cacao variety CCN-51, created by Omero Castro Zurita in 1965, offers a disease-resistant, high-yield solution. This MFA documentary project highlights his overlooked legacy and investigates whether CCN-51 can sustainably address the global cocoa shortage.

This research studies the unusually long-lived Heliconius butterflies to uncover genetic mechanisms behind extended lifespan. By analysing DNA from butterflies across their lifespan, it aims to reveal evolutionary strategies for longevity that may inform future human ageing therapies. Understanding diverse animal lifespans could guide healthier ageing — without mythical “Fountains of Youth.”