International scientific collaboration advances genetics and regenerative coffee farming through research program

• Researchers from CATIE, CIRAD, UCR, TEC, and USP exchange scientific advances based on more than 25 years of research in agroforestry systems with coffee

CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) brought together researchers and technical-scientific teams from national and international institutions on February 17, within the framework of the Exchange Program between CATIE, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC), and the University of São Paulo (USP), with the objective of sharing advances in genetics, agroecological interactions, and microbiome in agroforestry systems with coffee.

The activity took place at the CATIE campus in Costa Rica, consolidating a space for scientific dialogue aimed at strengthening collaborative research and promoting new joint initiatives that contribute to the sustainability of the coffee sector at the national and international levels.

One of the pillars of this exchange is the long-term trial in agroforestry systems with coffee that CATIE has developed for more than 25 years. This trial has made it possible to analyze agroecological interactions in different production systems, including full-sun systems, shaded systems, conventional models, and regenerative organic systems.

“We established, with support from CIRAD, the first long-term trial, which is now more than 25 years old, to study agroecological interactions in different coffee production systems. The trial includes reference systems for study: two full-sun systems and six shaded systems, including conventional models and 100% regenerative organic systems. From this trial, we have obtained a great deal of information, more than 40 master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral theses, and more than 35 scientific articles published in international journals,” explained Elías de Melo, researcher at CATIE’s Agroforestry and Genetic Improvement of Coffee and Cacao Unit.

The results generated from this trial have contributed significantly to advancing scientific knowledge and developing practical solutions for the coffee sector. Likewise, the trial has served as a bridge between research and territories, making it possible to link scientific studies with farm realities and strengthen knowledge transfer to producers and technicians.

In this context, months ago the Regenerative Coffee Farming Protocol of Costa Rica was presented, an initiative based on scientific evidence developed from the work of this research program and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG). This protocol represents an innovative model aimed at promoting more sustainable, resilient, and regenerative production systems.

CATIE Director General, Dr. Luis Pocasangre, highlighted the importance of these types of spaces to strengthen scientific research and international collaboration:

“It is a great pleasure to have distinguished coffee scientists and researchers here. Coffee is a fascinating production system and of great importance to the region. The results of the long-term trial and the Regenerative Coffee Farming Protocol of Costa Rica are viewed by Ministers in the region as an example to emulate in their countries, so this initiative may have official-level implications. At CATIE, we firmly believe in collaborative work.”

During the event, participants shared advances from pioneering collaborative studies focused on the microbiome of agroforestry systems, the functional genomics of coffee, and soil microbiota, as well as future perspectives for joint research.

These exchanges made it possible to identify opportunities to strengthen existing collaborations, generate new scientific initiatives, and continue consolidating this program as a key space for the development of applied knowledge that contributes to the sustainability and resilience of coffee farming in the region.