English translation:
CATIE and Transforma-Innova Program Partners Host a Successful Field Day for Coffee Growers in Costa Rica
Event Highlights Advances from the KoLFACI Coffee Project in Costa Rica
More than 55 coffee producers from the Western Valley of Costa Rica gathered at Finca Santa Anita in Naranjo de Palmares for a field day focused on adaptive capacity and mitigation strategies in coffee farms. Organized by the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), the event provided a platform to exchange information and knowledge on innovative practices in Costa Rica’s coffee sector.
The event was held as part of the KoLFACI project and the Transforma-Innova Program, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), GIZ, ICAFE, and cooperatives CoopeIndia RL, CoopePalmares RL, Café de Altura, and Agrícola El Cántaro-Beneficio Santa Anita.
Innovative Practices Presented
Throughout the morning, participants explored research findings and innovative practices, including:
- Coffee pruning systems: Techniques focused on plant regeneration and pest control to improve productivity.
- Agroforestry systems: Integration of trees and coffee crops to conserve natural resources, enhance biodiversity, and sequester carbon.
- Drip irrigation systems: Solutions designed to ensure efficient water use, a critical resource amid climate change.
Dr. Elías de Melo, a coffee specialist at CATIE, and students from the Master’s Program in Agroforestry and Sustainable Agriculture shared findings from surveys on the impacts of climate change conducted with members of participating cooperatives. This collaborative exchange fosters practical and tailored solutions to the sector’s challenges. Additionally, Banco Popular de Palmares provided information on financial instruments to enhance farm productivity.
Transforma-Innova Program Projections
Aligned with the Transforma-Innova Program’s strategy and in collaboration with cooperatives and partner organizations, such activities aim to promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. These practices enable coffee producers to increase adaptive capacity and contribute to climate change mitigation.
The program prioritizes sustainable and regenerative practices to optimize resources, strengthen farm resilience, and reduce the environmental impact of coffee farming. Plans are underway to expand field days to other regions of the country next year.
The Transforma-Innova Program is coordinated by MAG, co-financed by the European Union, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI). It is implemented by GIZ in collaboration with CATIE, Conservation International (CI), the Costa Rica-United States Foundation for Cooperation (CRUSA), the Environmental Bank Foundation (FUNBAM), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Key Contributions of the KoLFACI Coffee Project
The field day also highlighted progress in the KoLFACI Coffee Project for Costa Rica, which evaluates pruning technologies and identifies promising coffee varieties to address climate change in Latin America. Supported by the Korea-Latin America Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KoLFACI) and the Korean Rural Development Administration (RDA), the project has positively impacted local producers.
Ing. Diana Espinoza (ICAFE) and M.Sc. Chelsia Moraes (CATIE) presented preliminary results on pruning techniques and coffee varieties at two of the four farms under study. Key achievements include:
- Knowledge transfer: Producers have adopted various pruning systems, with some practices spreading to neighboring farms.
- Improved production: Cycle-based pruning optimizes crop health and simplifies tasks like fertilization, reducing operational complexity.
- Tailored adaptation: Farm-specific conditions—such as topography, altitude, climate, and coffee varieties—highlight the importance of adaptive, non-generalized approaches.
“Pruning is essential for maintaining consistent harvests and reducing biennial production cycles by renewing old growth each year,” explained Chelsia Moraes, CATIE researcher.