Commercial Farm
The CATIE Commercial Farm covers an approximate area of 130 hectares dedicated to the production of conventional sugarcane and two organic sugarcane production trials—one in collaboration with the company AsSukkar and another with DIECA-LAICA—as well as more than 100 hectares of commercial forest plantations developed in partnership with companies and international donors. The farm also includes an area of 85 hectares dedicated to the sustainable production of cattle for meat and milk.
CATIE, Turrialba. Calves. Photo: Eyleen Vargas / Ojo por Ojo.
Dr. Jorge León Arguedas Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden features an attractive collection of tropical plants from different parts of the world, where visitors can enjoy outdoor activities in a safe and pleasant environment. In addition, it has a team of trained staff committed to making every experience unique, allowing visitors to explore beyond the scientific aspect.
We offer a variety of activities:
- Birdwatching and identification.
- Night tours.
- Bicycle tours.
- Sustainable tropical dairy.
- International Coffee Collection.
- International Cocoa Collection.
- Germplasm bank of orthodox seeds.
Other activities available:
- Talks and workshops on sustainable agriculture in small spaces.
- Grafts.
- Preparation of organic fertilizers.
- Management of forest and fruit nurseries.
- Tree planting programs.
- among others.
Jardín Botánico del CATIE | Turismo educativo en Costa Rica
Forest Seed Bank
Its creation begins in 1967 with the objective of contributing to the exchange and research for development of forest seeds in the Latin American region. In 2002, the BSF acquires a commercial dimension to supply high quality seeds not only regionally, but globally. Annually seeds are distributed to more than 20 countries and technical advice is offered for the proper handling of seeds, nursery production and establishment of plantations.
Si desea conocer los distintos tipos de semillas que tenemos y adquirlas escríbamos:
- bsf@catie.ac.cr
- +506 6365 2201
- http://bsf.catie.ac.cr/
Production of improved coffee hybrids
Through its Biotechnology Laboratory and Forest Seed Bank, CATIE consolidated in 2012 a propagation strategy for F1 hybrids developed by the Coffee Genetic Improvement Project.
What is an F1 hybrid and why is its propagation important? It is a product that arises from a cross between living plant or animal organisms through sexual reproduction.
The creation and distribution of these hybrids aim to:
- Reduce plant production times
- Increase production capacity and reduce costs
- Improve resistance to diseases such as coffee leaf rust.
- Enhance vegetative vigor and high productivity.
- Achieve better adaptability to challenging environments.
- Offer excellent beverage characteristics
CATIE Specialty Coffee
CATIE Specialty Coffee in a venture that began in 2019 to market specialty coffees from materials produced by the Coffee Genetic Improvement Program and some outstanding varieties from the International Coffee Collection. In the introduction stage, work was carried out with two of the F1 coffee hybrids (Centroamericano and Esperanza) and soon the offer of other varieties will be increased.
CATIE Biotechnology Laboratory
The Biotechnology Laboratory was established in the early 1980s to develop various biotechnological tools applied to the conservation and use of plant genetic resources of strategic importance to CATIE and its member countries. Since its inception, it has made significant contributions to generating knowledge on the propagation, characterization, conservation, and genetic improvement of tropical crops such as coffee, cacao, banana, plantain, abacá, roots, tubers, forest species, and ornamentals, among others.
The laboratory offers technical advisory services in various topics:
- Development of micropropagation protocols for different species.
- Commercial multiplication of plant varieties, clones, elite plants, or other genetic materials.
- Training in coffee somatic embryogenesis, establishment of cell suspensions, and management of embryogenic cultures.
- Installation and training in the temporary immersion culture system using RITA® vessels.
- Training in the cryoconservation of seeds and different vegetative propagules using various techniques.
- wsolano@catie.ac.cr
- +506 2558 2386
Accommodation at CATIE
The lodging service is primarily offered to visitors who come to the campus to participate in short courses, seminars, workshops, and other types of training. It also hosts visitors to the Botanical Garden and clients of the CATIE Staff Association (ASOCATIE) who hold events within the main campus (Cafeteria and Club).
As an international university, CATIE also accommodates students from various countries, providing facilities that allow them to stay close to their center of study at a lower cost.