"The results add to a slow-moving wave of coffee breeding efforts as climate change alters growing conditions for both arabica and robusta across the coffee belt. Nestlé said the work was carried out with Côte d'Ivoire's Centre National de Recherche Agronomique, or CNRA, beginning in 2018 across four coffee-growing regions, where researchers evaluated 18 robusta varieties for yield, flavor, green coffee quality, drought tolerance and performance under climate stress."
"The company said additional trials showed the best results came not from a single standout variety, but from planting the six together. Nestlé also said sensory testing found less bitterness and fewer woody notes than found in other robustas. The six varieties have now been officially registered in Côte d'Ivoire, and Nestlé said the mix of varieties will be distributed to cooperatives under its in-house sustainability initiative called the Nescafé Plan."
"Meanwhile, there is a broader industry push to improve robusta genetics against the backdrop of climate change, disease pressure and persistent farmer profitability challenges. In August 2024, CNRA said the two organizations had joined forces to develop a new robusta variety, with plans to distribute 4.2 million coffee plants to producers."
Multi-year field research conducted by Nestlé and Côte d'Ivoire's national agricultural research center (CNRA) from 2018 across four coffee-growing regions evaluated 18 robusta varieties for yield, flavor, green coffee quality, drought tolerance, and climate stress performance. Six top-performing varieties—two developed by Nestlé and four by CNRA—were found to produce optimal results when planted together, yielding up to 86% higher production than commonly used local varieties. Sensory testing revealed these varieties produce less bitterness and fewer woody notes than typical robustas. The six varieties have been officially registered in Côte d'Ivoire and will be distributed to cooperatives through Nestlé's Nescafé Plan sustainability initiative. This research reflects broader industry efforts to improve robusta genetics amid climate change, disease pressure, and farmer profitability challenges.
#coffee-breeding-and-genetics #climate-change-adaptation #robusta-varieties #agricultural-research #sustainable-farming
Read at Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine
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