Nestlé Develops Resilient Arabica Coffee Variety to Combat Climate Change and Ensure Future Supply

While global coffee demand rises, #climate change threatens #Arabica coffee production, potentially reducing suitable land by over 50% by 2050. To address this, Nestlé leverages its agricultural expertise to ensure sustainable coffee for future generations.

Nestlé's plant scientists and agronomists have developed #Star 4, a high-yielding Arabica coffee variety using traditional breeding methods. Selected in Brazil for its resilience and the characteristic taste of Brazilian coffee, Star 4 boasts larger bean size and resistance to coffee leaf rust. Field trials have shown that Star 4 yields are significantly higher than the two most used Brazilian local varieties, reducing its carbon footprint.

"We are proud to make another important step towards #resilient coffee supply chains, ensuring that consumers can continue to enjoy great coffee in the future," says Jeroen Dijkman, Head of Nestlé’s Institute of Agricultural Sciences.

#Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from higher coffee yields are attributed to improved plant productivity and farming methods. Marcelo Burity, Nestlé’s Head of Green Coffee Development, emphasizes, "Optimizing cultivation practices remains vital as they are the primary factor contributing to the environmental impact of a cup of coffee." Cultivation accounts for the largest share of GHG emissions in coffee production.

The development of Star 4 aligns with Nestlé’s Agriculture Framework, promoting #sustainable farming practices and responsible sourcing. Tested in São Paulo and Minas Gerais, the variety has been successfully registered in Brazil with the help of the Brazilian foundation Procafé.

In addition to Star 4, Nestlé has developed two Robusta varieties, Roubi 1 and 2, currently being introduced in Mexico.

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Original Source: https://www.nestle.com/about/research-development/news/star-4-high-yielding-arabica-coffee-variety