Costa Rica Celebrates the 75th Anniversary of the International Coffee Collection

• CATIE hosts an international scientific congress at its campus in Turrialba, bringing together the most prominent actors in the coffee sector from Latin America and the Caribbean.

The highly anticipated Scientific Congress of the 75th Anniversary of the International Coffee Collection is currently taking place at the CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) campus in Turrialba, Costa Rica. This historic event brings together leading scientists, industry experts, and coffee producers from around the world, highlighting the critical role of this collection in advancing sustainable coffee production.

The inaugural ceremony was led by Geoffrey Hawtin, recipient of the 2024 World Food Prize; Julián Arias Varela, Costa Rica's Vice Minister of Agriculture and Livestock; Gale Garnett, Chair of CATIE’s Board of Directors; and Luis Pocasangre, CATIE's Director General. Their remarks emphasized the importance of this event as a platform for knowledge exchange and innovation in the coffee sector.

“We must seize this opportunity to build alliances, exchange knowledge, and strengthen our shared vision for a prosperous and sustainable future,” highlighted Vice Minister Arias, officially inaugurating the congress.

In addition, Pocasangre noted: “This commemorative event offers a unique opportunity to reflect on advances in coffee research, share experiences in genetic conservation, and address the challenges and opportunities facing coffee production in the context of climate change. Through panels and presentations on genetics, value chains, cup quality, and the impact of CATIE's hybrids, producers and experts will exchange key knowledge to foster sustainable coffee production adapted to today’s challenges.”

Celebrating a Global Treasure
The International Coffee Collection, established at CATIE in 1949, is an invaluable genetic heritage that has played a crucial role in developing coffee varieties resistant to diseases, adapted to diverse climatic conditions, and promoting sustainability in coffee production. This scientific congress seeks to highlight the significance of this collection and its contribution to the global coffee sector's well-being.

Recognized by the FAO as a World Heritage, CATIE's International Coffee Collection holds approximately 2,000 accessions and is the second largest in Latin America. Any user, whether a producer, university, or research institute, can access its genetic material under the agreement signed in 2006 with the International Treaty. In 2017, the Crop Trust and World Coffee Research concluded that this collection holds one of the world's most diverse coffee genetics and designated it as the only Origin Collection outside Africa.

A Full Agenda of Opportunities
The congress program includes:

• Panels with producers sharing experiences on genetics, value chains, and CATIE hybrid varieties.
• Presentations by international experts.
• Technical visits to the International Coffee and Cacao Collections, featuring hands-on activities and exclusive tastings.
• Coffee cupping sessions from Central America.

Looking to the Future
CATIE's F1 hybrids, such as Milenio, Centroamericano, and Esperanza, exemplify innovative responses to modern challenges in coffee production. These varieties, developed from CATIE’s International Coffee Collection, stand out for their high productivity, disease resistance, and exceptional cup quality.

As part of the congress, CATIE is also celebrating the 80th Anniversary of its International Cacao Collection, a vital resource for genetic improvement. As part of the congress field tour, a visit to the International Cacao Collection will be conducted.

This collection houses a vast genetic diversity of cacao plants from over 20 countries, including Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and Ghana. This material has enabled CATIE to develop cacao clones with high productivity, superior quality, resistance to diseases such as frosty pod rot, and adaptation to adverse climatic conditions, benefiting producers across Central and Latin America.

Support the Henry Wallace Coffee Chair

As part of this celebration, CATIE has launched a donation campaign for the the Henry Wallace Coffee Chair, an initiative dedicated to strengthening CATIE’s Graduate School and driving sustainable innovations that benefit coffee producers in Latin America and the Caribbean.

We invite all coffee enthusiasts to support this significant initiative. Make your donation by visiting: https://congresocafe.catie.ac.cr/catedra/. Your contribution will help plant a promising future for coffee and promote sustainability in the region.

The Scientific Coffee Congress provides a unique opportunity for professionals and producers in the sector to exchange ideas, form alliances, and propose new strategies to address the current challenges in coffee production.