CATIE and PROMECAFE strengthen alliance for the sustainable development of Coffee

• Meeting of authorities achieves laying out future plans and updating knowledge about CATIE's actions in conservation, genetic improvement, and agroforestry.

In a recent visit to CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), Daniel Dubon, executive secretary of PROMECAFE (Regional Cooperative Program for Technological Development and Modernization of Coffee Cultivation), and Alfredo Zamarripa, president of the Board of Directors, met with authorities of the institution with the aim of reinforcing efforts towards the sustainable development of coffee.

The long-term relationship between CATIE and PROMECAFE focuses on coffee research and training, especially in the evaluation and generation of resistant varieties, such as the Nemaya robusta and the catimores which resulted in notable varieties like Costa Rica 95, Oro Azteca, and Lempira, as well as in training personnel in advanced propagation and rooting techniques.

The welcome was given by the General Director of CATIE, Luis Ernesto Pocasangre Enamorado, Rolando Cerda, coordinator of the Agroforestry and Coffee and Cocoa Genetic Improvement Unit, and the Specialist in Plant Genetic Resources, William Solano.

The meeting also aimed to reaffirm continuous collaboration in these crucial areas and strengthen the partnerships between both institutions. In this context, the importance of collaboration in research, development, and education projects in the coffee sector was highlighted.

PROMECAFE is a research and cooperation network, originally formed by coffee institutions from Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica; in addition to IICA and CATIE.

Alliances and projects

According to Rolando Cerda, the visit focused on discussing PROMECAFE's future plans and updating on CATIE's actions in conservation, genetic improvement, and agroforestry. The relevance of strengthening the alliance was emphasized, with the participation of CATIE experts in some of its various bodies, such as the board of directors, the technical committee, and the breeding network.

CATIE's General Director expressed the institution's continued willingness to collaborate in research, development, and education in the coffee sector. The visit reinforced PROMECAFE representatives' conviction that CATIE remains fundamental for the evaluation of new coffee materials, the promotion of agroforestry, and formal education in courses and diplomas.

Daniel Dubon said that CATIE has been a strategic partner of PROMECAFE for two weighty reasons. "Throughout history, when the genetic improvement project was carried out in the 1980s, it was CATIE who played a very important role thanks to the germplasm bank that exists, in combination with other institutes from Portugal and France. From that work arise, for example, the sarchimores and catimores groups," he said.

The second reason, he indicated, "the largest or most robust, is through the specialized people they have to help us enrich and strengthen research."

Dubon explained that there is a specific activity where CATIE will play an important role, and that is this year they are restarting a genetic improvement program in which they will evaluate all hybrids that have been developed in different sectors of production.

"This action of this phase of taking hybrids to a field validation phase in all countries under real conditions is extremely important and CATIE is the source of our raw material, thanks to the germplasm bank."

New master's degree and diploma in coffee farming

In October 2023, CATIE presented its new International Master's Degree in Sustainable and Resilient Coffee Farming and a Technical Diploma in Innovative Coffee Farming, jointly with PROMECAFE.

The significant challenges posed by the ongoing impacts of climate change, degradation of coffee agroecosystems, and general uncertainties caused by policies and markets jeopardize the enormous environmental, social, and economic potential of coffee production. This new academic offering is crucial for comprehensive training of professionals with robust capabilities to contribute to the transformation of coffee farming towards a more sustainable and inclusive economy. 

• CATIE and PROMECAFE launch new master's degree and diploma in sustainable and innovative coffee farming - CATIE

Finally, joint priorities will focus on genetic improvement actions and research for mechanization in coffee farming, combined with sustainable agroforestry practices.

The strategic alliance between CATIE and PROMECAFE promises to continue contributing to the well-being and sustainable development of the coffee sector in Latin America and the Caribbean.