Nestlé and CATIE Explore New Coffee and Cocoa Genetic Improvement Initiatives

• The visit of Nestlé delegates to CATIE opens the door to new initiatives that could benefit both the coffee and cocoa community and the conservation of genetic biodiversity.

A delegation from the multinational company Nestlé, headed by Damien Drouet, Head of the Coffee and Cocoa Research and Development Department, visited the facilities of CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) with the purpose of exploring new coffee and cocoa genetic improvement initiatives.

This visit, Drouet's first to CATIE, aimed primarily to gain an in-depth understanding of the center's capabilities and to establish new collaborations for future projects.

During their two-day stay, the Nestlé representatives, including Juan Carlos Herrera Pinilla, a biologist and plant breeding expert, and Eduardo Beche, a plant genetics specialist, were impressed by CATIE's infrastructure, technical capabilities, and sustainable practices. The delegation left with valuable ideas for the creation of future collaborative projects.

"We were impressed by CATIE's infrastructure and capabilities. We have found very good possibilities for future collaborations in areas that interest us greatly, such as sustainability and the improvement of coffee and cocoa varieties," commented Drouet.

New Projects

The Nestlé delegation, which already collaborates with CATIE on several projects, took advantage of this visit to deepen their knowledge of the center's farms, collections, and practices, and to identify new opportunities for cooperation.

One of the highlights of the visit was the discussion of a new project for cocoa variety trials, focusing on identifying disease-resistant strains that are adapted to new growing conditions.

Additionally, the possibility of establishing a framework agreement to outline other long-term collaborative initiatives was explored. According to Herrera Pinilla, "For Nestlé, it is fundamental to maintain the genetic wealth we will need in the future, especially given the challenges posed by climate change and the need to improve production without diseases."

CATIE and Nestlé already collaborate at La Lola farm, where cocoa clones are evaluated to identify promising materials. Nestlé's visit reinforces this collaboration and underscores the importance of continuing to work together on projects that benefit both the coffee and cocoa community and the conservation of genetic biodiversity.

The CATIE International Cocoa Collection is one of the most important in the world, housing a wide genetic diversity of this plant. Over its 80 years of existence, it has been a fundamental pillar in the research and improvement of cocoa varieties, significantly contributing to the sustainable development and productivity of the global cocoa sector.