Costa Rican Coffee Institute joins hands with Starbucks to explore new varieties of disease-resistant coffee

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Article Source: food Information Center

At present, Instituto del Caf é de Costa Rica (Icaf é) is working with Starbucks (Starbucks), a well-known multinational coffee shop chain, to study the resistance of several coffee varieties to stem rust, anthracnose and "corns", in order to find varieties with strong disease resistance and climate adaptability, in order to improve the yield and competitiveness of Costa Rican coffee. Promote the sustainable development of coffee planting industry.

Icaf é and Starbucks signed an agreement to evaluate five coffee genotypes over the next four years to determine their yield, volume-to-weight conversion ratio and resistance to disease. Investigators will also assess the size, texture, smell, taste and flavor of these coffee varieties, as well as their adaptability to changes in climatic conditions.

Based on the same concern that existing coffee varieties are sensitive to disease and bad weather, which have a significant impact on Costa Rican coffee production, Icafe has been working with Starbucks for many years to develop new coffee varieties in Costa Rica coffee-growing areas that can adapt to different climates, soils and heights.

At present, the domestic coffee harvest in Costa Rica is 24 farnegs per hectare (that is, 24 piculs, 46 kilograms per kilogram), which is about 30 fenegs lower than a decade ago. Climate change and susceptibility to disease, and plant aging are the main reasons for the decline in Costa Rican coffee production per unit. Therefore, one of the important goals of the Costa Rican coffee industry at present is to identify new high-quality varieties that will help to improve productivity, thus raising the country's annual output from the current 2 million farneg to 3.2 million farneg about 10 years ago.

"now is the time to find new varieties with strong disease resistance and climate adaptability. Through this cooperation, the two sides will achieve a common goal: to seek better production conditions for the coffee industry. The two main coffee research centres in Costa Rica will be involved in this cooperation. " Head of Icafe, Shania? Chavez (Xinia Chaves) said.

Carlos Mario Rodriguez, an agronomist from Starbucks, said, "Starbucks believes in the power of teamwork, and we share a common goal with the representative of the Costa Rican coffee industry, Icaf é, to improve the socio-economic situation of Costa Rican coffee growers."

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