Cenicafé 1 Coffee Variety – New Prospects for the Industry to Cope with Climate Change

The Cenicafé 1 coffee variety is a cross between Caturra and Timor Hybrid 1343. It was developed as part of the new Coffee Breeding Strategy of the Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers (FNC) and the Cenicafé research center. This new variety was created to further improve seed quality and diversify choices for farmers.

To create the Cenicafé 1 coffee variety, experts spent 20 years on research and testing. They developed more than 116 variations by combining Caturra and Timor Hybrid 1343. Then, experts continued cross-breeding to obtain the best embryos – Cenicafé 1 carries the characteristics of Caturra seedlings and is resistant to diseases and pests.

Experts spent 20 years of research and testing to create the Cenicafé 1 coffee variety

FNC’s research department stated that Cenicafé 1 has the same high yield as Castillo varieties, producing about 17.6 kg of coffee cherries per tree in a four-harvest cycle. The grain size is medium-large with high-quality flavor potential. Not only that, the coffee exhibits stronger vitality than regular Arabica, adapting well to climate change conditions. The tree can resist leaf rust, fungal diseases that damage coffee beans, and some new mutant pests.

Experts have tested Cenicafé 1 in several areas and assessed that it can withstand global warming and is suitable for widespread cultivation throughout Colombia. This tree has a Caturra structure that allows it to be planted at a density of 10,000 trees/ha in unshaded conditions or 5,000–7,000 trees/ha in shaded areas. With a high density of trees that still ensures good yields, Cenicafé 1 coffee can enable more harvests while requiring a smaller land area, helping farmers increase their income.

Additionally, the quality rating of the original Cenicafé 1 coffee achieved a cup score of 84. According to a panel at the Caldas Department cupping, they found the flavors of cocoa, honey, and hazelnut to be unique in the flavor profile of this coffee.

Cenicafe 1 can withstand global warming

Cenicafé 1 is a new variety introduced to the market, so all production steps are being carried out by researchers. However, some Colombian producers show great interest in the advantages of this variety and wish to cultivate it. Therefore, according to the new coffee breeding plan, four tons of seeds were evenly distributed to Colombian farmers. The Cenicafé organization hopes that this new coffee variety will help producers not have to worry about coffee leaf rust or low yields while allowing them to access the specialty market. However, coffee researchers stress that, regardless of the variety, it’s important for farmers to pay attention to seeding density, crop management, fertilization (ideally based on soil analysis), weed management, pest control, etc. Because quality does not only depend on the variety but can also be affected by many other factors such as farming methods, soil, processing, etc.

According to the new coffee breeding plan, four tons of seeds have been evenly distributed to Colombian farmers

The development of the Cenicafé 1 coffee variety may mark an important step forward in combating the impact of climate change on the coffee industry. The combination of heat resistance, disease resistance, and product quality of this coffee variety not only brings economic benefits but also protects the environment and the farming community. Hopefully, the development of Cenicafé 1 will continue to spread and bring new prospects to the global coffee industry.

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Source collected from perfectdailygrind

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