CATIE and Yara Form Alliance to Preserve the International Coffee Collection

• Through Yara, a company that has been operating since 1905, CATIE will have access to environmentally friendly fertilizers that will contribute to soil health and plant nutrition in the International Coffee Collection.

October 12, 2023.As part of their ongoing efforts to conserve the genetic resources of coffee protected by the CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), a collaboration agreement was signed with the international company Yara. Yara will supply the necessary fertilizers and foliar inputs for the optimal management of the nutrition of the International Coffee Collection.

This partnership with Yara aligns with the strategy of rejuvenating the collection with the goal of rationalizing and preserving coffee's genetic varieties for the long term. For nearly 75 years, CATIE has contributed to the identification, utilization, and analysis of genetic diversity to ensure the sustainability of coffee farming worldwide, making it the fourth largest Coffea arabica collection globally and the second largest in Latin America. Coffea arabica más grande del planeta y la segunda de Latinoamérica.

"For the time being, our role is to use the fertilizers according to Yara's recommendations to improve the agronomic condition of the collection. In the future, with expanded areas of collaboration, we aim to work together to define nutrient absorption curves for coffee hybrids," highlighted William Solano, a specialist in phytogenetic resources and curator of CATIE's International Coffee Collection.

Promotion of Sustainable Solutions

Since 1905, Yara has been focused on providing crop nutrition solutions through advice, digital tools, and high-performance, low-carbon footprint fertilizers. Their aim is to prevent environmental contamination, optimize water usage, avoid groundwater pollution, and regenerate soils to improve crop nutrition and promote zero emissions.

In 2021, CATIE and Yara joined forces to train coffee producers, opening the door to a public-private collaboration for the conservation of coffee genetic resources. This relationship was cemented on October 12, 2023, with a three-year agreement, which is expected to be replicated in other areas of research.

About the Signing of the Agreement

The agreements were led by Muhammad Ibrahim, the Director-General of CATIE, and Belén Luque, the Regional Director of Yara Central America. The signing was also attended by Marconi Álvarez, the Farming Solutions Manager for Yara Central America; Natalia Villalobos, Marketing Manager for Yara Central America; Rolando Cerda, Coordinator of the Agroforestry and Genetic Improvement Coffee and Cacao Unit; and William Solano, the curator of CATIE's Coffee Collection.

"For Yara, Regenerative Agriculture is one of our key pillars, and this is precisely where phytogenetic resources have a role, as they are crucial to ensuring coffee crop resilience from our perspective. In addition to this, we understand that we need to provide an integrated solution to the farmer. Coffee productivity depends on climate, genetics, and management factors, and crop nutrition is key for management and achieving a more resilient crop, with the ultimate goal being the sustainability of coffee farming," emphasized Álvarez.

Following the agreement, a visit to the International Coffee Collection took place, with an acknowledgment of Yara's support in conserving coffee genetic resources. CATIE expresses gratitude for this collaboration and is committed to continuing work on genetic improvement to develop hybrids that offer greater resistance to coffee rust and other diseases, higher productivity, increased resilience to climate change, and better cup quality.

Fertilizer application has already begun across the entire collection, and it is expected that, with the use of this nutritional package, the agronomic condition of the coffee plants will further improve, leading to a greater seed production for distribution to users.

"With institutions like Yara, we can see evidence of what is being worked on and use them for transformation and impact in different crops. I believe that with this partnership, we can advance in various areas, including NAMAs, and we are open to enhancing this relationship," emphasized Ibrahim.

About CATIE

CATIE is an international center for innovation and sustainable development related to agriculture, natural resource management, and conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2023, it celebrates its 50th year of combining education, research, and external outreach to enhance human well-being and reduce rural poverty.

The center's area of influence is the Latin American and Caribbean region, where it leads in integrated agriculture and natural resource management to address global challenges.