Entry 227944
Breeders from 10 countries gather to drive Innovea’s next phase
In the cool mountain air of Manizales, Colombia, researchers and breeders from 10 countries convened for a landmark meeting of the Innovea Global Coffee Breeding Network as it expanded to include robusta. The meeting was hosted by Cenicafé.
Around a broad table and across field-trial plots, 20 visiting researchers from participating national programs — including newcomers from Vietnam and Ghana alongside established partners from including Costa Rica, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Rwanda, and Uganda — met face-to-face under the banner of collaboration and shared purpose and discussed key technical elements of the Innovea network.
These photos document the power of global collaboration—researchers from across the tropics comparing approaches, sharing data and ideas, and strengthening the global foundation for coffee breeding through Innovea.
Sessions at the gathering of breeders focused on harmonizing genotyping and phenotyping protocols, refining shared breeding priorities, strengthening data management systems, and integrating robusta into the network’s next phase of work. Participants also spent a full day in hands-on training on genomic selection and trial design, aimed at ensuring that every national program can apply modern breeding tools effectively.
The gathering was also the occasion for announcing the expansion of the network to include robusta, and the addition of two new partners in the network, Ghana and Vietnam. Pictured above is Ghanian breeder Dr. Abraham Akpertey with WCR’s Director of Research and Development, Dr. Tania Humphrey. The network now includes national partnerships with 11 countries that together produce 40% of the world’s coffee supply.
A highlight of the gathering was a field visit to Cenicafé’s El Naranjal research farm, where guests engaged directly with breeders, phytopathologists, seed-system specialists, and quality experts from one of the world’s most influential coffee research institutions. There, participants observed ongoing trials, learned about Colombia’s approach to variety development and disease management, and exchanged insights on how different national production systems—from high-elevation arabica regions to lowland robusta zones—are adapting to increasing pressures from climate and market change.
