TURRIALBA, Costa Rica – From December 3 to 5, 2024, the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) will host a Scientific Congress to mark the 75th anniversary of its International Coffee Collection. This event will take place at the CATIE campus in Turrialba, Costa Rica, and will bring together experts, producers, and key figures in the coffee sector from the Americas, Asia, and Africa.
This collection, declared public domain, is considered a true treasure for humanity. Its vast genetic diversity makes it an invaluable reservoir, safeguarding the future of coffee and providing essential resources to address climate and sustainability challenges.
The commemorative event aims to reflect on advances in coffee research, share successful experiences in genetic conservation, and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the coffee industry within the context of a changing global environment.
Dr. Geoffrey Hawtin, 2024 World Food Prize laureate and a prominent advocate for genetic resource conservation, will be the keynote speaker at the congress. Additionally, the event will feature renowned international experts, including Rodomiro Ortiz, a specialist in genetic improvement; Phillipe Vaast, a specialist in Coffee Production Systems; Carlos Brando, an expert in coffee processing and commercialization; and Young Jun Cho, a coffee taster from Korea.
The congress agenda also includes a space for coffee producers from different countries in the region to share their knowledge and experiences in cultivation, commercialization, and managing the climatic and production challenges faced by the global coffee industry. Panel moderators will include notable figures such as Anabelle Meneses, Rommel Melghem, Lily Pacas, and Walter Julián.
CATIE ’s International Coffee Collection, established in 1949, is an invaluable genetic heritage that has played a fundamental role in developing coffee varieties resistant to diseases, adaptable to different climate conditions, and promoting sustainability in coffee production
This scientific congress aims to highlight the importance of this collection and its contribution to the global coffee sector’s well-being.
In addition to plenary sessions and thematic panels, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in technical visits, where they can observe the collection in the field and learn about the management and conservation practices developed by CATIE.
This congress offers a unique opportunity for professionals in the sector to exchange ideas, form alliances, and propose new strategies to respond to current challenges in coffee production.
About the International Coffee Collection
Recognized by the FAO as World Heritage, CATIE’s International Coffee Collection includes around 2,000 accessions and is the second largest in Latin America. Any user, be it a producer, university, or research institute, can access its genetic material under an agreement signed in 2006 with the International Treaty. In 2017, Crop Trust and World Coffee Research concluded that this collection holds one of the world’s greatest genetic diversities of coffee, designating it as the only Origin collection outside Africa.
Double Celebration
In 2024, CATIE also celebrates the 80th anniversary of its International Cacao Collection, established in 1944, which has become an essential resource for cacao genetic improvement. The collection houses a wide genetic diversity of cacao plants from over 20 countries, including Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and Ghana.
As part of the congress field tour, participants will also visit the International Cacao Collection, where they can view the collection in situ and enjoy a cacao tasting.
