CATIE participates in Café World Summit with a conference on science, sustainable, and regenerative coffee farming   

• The event offers a valuable perspective on the intersection between science, sustainability, and profitability in the global coffee industry.

CATIE will participate in the Café World Summit held at the Costa Rica Convention Center this week. It is a global event that will showcase innovations and challenges in the coffee industry, from sustainability to adapting to climate change.

Researcher Elías de Melo, renowned for his expertise in agroforestry and sustainable agriculture, will deliver a conference titled "Agroecological Interactions, Yield, and Quality in Coffee Plantations under Full Sun and Shade" on Friday, March 22.

De Melo emphasized the importance of this global meeting, organized by a committee comprised of producers committed to regenerative and sustainable coffee farming, with the Costa Rican Coffee Institute (ICAFE) as a protagonist alongside other key stakeholders.

"Pioneering topics such as the use of bioinputs in coffee, regenerative culture, and integrating productivity with ecosystem services will be addressed," he explained.

The researcher serves as the Academic Coordinator of CATIE's International Master's Program in Sustainable and Regenerative Coffee Farming and Coordinator of the Long-Term Trial in Agroforestry Systems with Coffee.

Impact of Climate Change on Coffee

De Melo's conference will focus on the long-term research results in agroforestry systems, comparing coffee productivity and quality under different shade and sun conditions. "I will present a synthesis of 23 years of studies with the scientific platform I coordinate at CATIE," he explained.

One of the main topics he will address is the impact of climate change and price instability in the coffee sector. De Melo emphasized that these challenges are affecting the profitability and sustainability of coffee farming in all producing countries. "Traditional management models are not proving viable in the long run," he warned.

Given this scenario, De Melo pointed out the need to find sustainable alternatives that restore soils, water, and biodiversity while ensuring profitability for producers. He highlighted the crucial role of science in this process and CATIE's role as a leading research platform in different production systems.

"CATIE has much to contribute; we are a significant reference at this crucial moment for coffee farming," De Melo added.

Elías de Melo joins a distinguished list of experts participating in the Café World Summit from March 20 to 23 at the National Convention Center in San José, Costa Rica. The conference will provide a valuable perspective on the intersection between science, sustainability, and profitability in the global coffee industry.

His presentation will be on Friday, March 22, in Section 5, titled Coffee Science, at 10:30 a.m. It will be available in-person format.