Technical seminar celebrates 75 years of the International Coffee Collection at CATIE

• Producers and scientists highlight the impact of research on coffee farming and hybrid development
  
  

As part of the Turrialba Coffee Fair in Costa Rica, CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) and the Costa Rican Coffee Institute (ICAFE) held the technical seminar “75 years of the International Coffee Collection: contributions to coffee farming from the producer's perspective.” This event commemorated seven and a half decades of work by CATIE's International Coffee Collection, which has been fundamental in research and development in coffee farming in the region.

The seminar was inaugurated by Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE; William Solano, Curator of CATIE’s International Coffee Collection; María José Castillo, Deputy Director of ICAFE; and Joaquín Lizano, member of ICAFE’s Board of Directors.

During his speech, Pocasangre emphasized the crucial role of producers in technological advances: "CATIE is an institution that exists for the producers. All the research and technologies we generate, the final beneficiaries are the producers," he stated, stressing the impact of the Esperanza hybrid in adapting to climate change and combating coffee leaf rust.

For her part, María José Castillo explained that the goal of the technical seminar was not only to share information on best agricultural practices and research results, but also for producers to take ownership of this knowledge and apply it on their farms. According to Castillo, hybrids are generating great expectations in the sector.

The seminar also featured the participation of various producers who shared their experiences. Among them were Róger Solano from Aquiares Estate Coffee, who spoke about 25 years of working with hybrids at Hacienda Aquiares; Víctor Hugo Morales from EARTH University, who presented findings on arabica coffee production in low-altitude areas; and Matías Monge from Hacienda San Isidro Labrador, who recounted the history of Geisha coffee in Costa Rica. In addition, John Alvarado from Microbeneficio Corazón de Jesús spoke about the quality of Milenio coffee, and Ricardo Azofeifa from Cafetalera Orígenes shared the organoleptic qualities of wild varieties.

Solano, as Curator of CATIE's International Coffee Collection, highlighted its importance, noting that it began in 1949 with seeds from Guatemala and El Salvador, and now holds more than 2,000 accessions, making it one of the most diverse in Latin America and the only one of its kind outside of Africa. He also underscored CATIE's commitment to continue developing hybrids to address the challenges posed by climate change.

Upcoming commemorative events

As part of the 75th-anniversary celebration, from December 3 to 5, CATIE will hold the Scientific Congress “The state of the art of coffee production in the Americas, Asia, and Africa,” with the participation of international experts and producers. The event will include a day of coffee tasting competition and a visit to the collection. Additionally, the guest of honor will be Dr. Geoffrey Hawtin, winner of the 2024 World Food Prize.

“The congress will combine science and practical experience to address the challenges faced by producers, and it will be a high-quality celebration of the 75 years of the International Coffee Collection,” said Pocasangre.