Can Catimor coffee help farmers withstand climate change?

Climate change is posing numerous challenges for the coffee-growing industry, including rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and disease outbreaks. To cope and maintain their livelihoods, farmers need coffee varieties that are resilient. Catimor coffee, a hybrid between Timor and Caturra, is becoming a preferred choice due to its high yield and disease resistance, helping farmers protect their crops and stabilize quality in harsh conditions.

Climate change increases losses for coffee farmers

Climate change is seriously affecting coffee-growing regions worldwide, particularly in countries like Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Ethiopia – the world’s largest coffee producers. Rising temperatures and increasingly extreme weather patterns have directly impacted the growth cycles of coffee plants. Research shows that just a 1°C to 2°C increase in average temperature can reduce Arabica coffee yields by up to 25% in some areas.

Additionally, the spread of diseases such as coffee leaf rust, caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix, has become a more severe issue than ever. In Central America, this disease reduced production by up to 30% at many farms during 2012-2013, pushing thousands of farmers into difficult circumstances. In Colombia, where more than 500,000 farmers depend on coffee, the situation is similarly grim as traditional coffee varieties struggle to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

This has forced farmers to seek out varieties that can better withstand harsh conditions and disease, and that’s where resilient varieties like Catimor are becoming increasingly vital.

Research indicates that with just a 1°C to 2°C increase in average temperature, Arabica coffee yields in some regions could decrease by up to 25%

The potential of Catimor coffee in harsh conditions

Catimor coffee is not a single variety but includes several strains with different parental lines and generations, such as Catimor 129, Costa Rica 95, and Catimor F6. This coffee was first developed in Portugal at the Centro de Investigação das Ferrugens do Cafeeiro (CIFC) by crossing Timor Hybrid with Caturra. Timor Hybrid is a cross between Arabica and Robusta, renowned for its strong disease resistance, especially against coffee leaf rust. Caturra is a high-yielding natural dwarf mutation of Bourbon.

Inheriting traits from its parents, Catimor varieties maintain the short stature of Caturra while improving resistance to leaf rust and ensuring high yield. This not only reduces farmers’ risk of crop loss due to disease but also allows them to maintain stable yields under extreme weather conditions. Varieties like Catimor 129, Catimor F6, and CR95 have been successfully grown in many regions, including Costa Rica, Brazil, and Vietnam, where climate change and diseases directly threaten farmers’ livelihoods.

Moreover, Catimor thrives in adverse climates, such as high-altitude areas with large weather fluctuations. This helps farmers maintain production while reducing the need for pesticides, saving costs, and protecting the environment. As a result, many coffee experts and producers consider Catimor a promising solution to the climate challenges facing coffee farmers.

Inheriting the advantages from its parent plants, Catimor varieties retain the short stature of Caturra while improving resistance to leaf rust and offering higher crop yields

Can farmers achieve stability with Catimor coffee?

Thanks to its strong disease resistance, especially against coffee leaf rust, Catimor helps farmers reduce costs associated with protecting crops from disease. In the context of climate change, where unpredictable weather and fungal outbreaks can devastate crops, planting Catimor is a significant advantage for maintaining yield.

However, it’s worth noting that the flavor of Catimor coffee is often not rated as highly as other Arabica varieties. Catimor is primarily known for its high yield and disease resistance, but its cup quality can be inconsistent. This means that while it helps farmers achieve economic stability, Catimor may face challenges competing with more refined-flavored varieties in the premium coffee market. Farmers may need to invest more in processing techniques to enhance the flavor of the beans.

Growing Catimor is a significant advantage for maintaining crop yields in the context of climate change, where unpredictable weather patterns and the outbreak of fungal diseases can devastate harvests

In Vietnam, this variety has been widely planted in many regions, particularly in highland areas where climate conditions are volatile. Farmers here have found that growing Catimor not only helps them avoid risks from diseases but also saves on production costs by reducing the need for pesticides, thus increasing their income and achieving greater stability in farming.

Nevertheless, to achieve higher economic value from Catimor, farmers may need to consider processing and roasting methods that can improve the flavor and quality of the final product, thus enhancing its value in the export market.

Farmers may need to consider processing and roasting methods to improve the flavor and quality of the finished coffee product