Next-Generation F1 Hybrid Varieties

F1 hybrid varieties are created by crossing genetically distinct parents (for example, a wild Ethiopian variety x Caturra). The offspring of the cross are first-generation (F1) hybrids. F1 hybrids are notable because they tend to have significantly higher production than non-hybrids, while maintaining high cup quality and disease resistance.

F1 hybrids are notable because they tend to have significantly higher production than non-hybrids. Early trials of coffee F1 hybrids showed 22-47% higher yields, without losses in cup quality or disease resistance. Recent results show they maybe also be more robust in other ways, such as tolerant to frosts. But that doesn't necessarily mean they will outperform a very good, locally adapted pure line variety in all places. And farmers have unique needs and goals; F1 hybrids are promising but are not a silver bullet.

An F1 hybrid contains a complete mix of the genetics of both parents. This higher genetic potential means it is more likely to be adaptable across a wide range of environments. F1 hybrids are known to have a higher level of adaptability and performance due to “hybrid vigor”—they produce more cherry than either of the parents would and are more tolerant of diseases and pests than each parent would be alone. F1s eliminate many of the tradeoffs of the past—for example, coffee leaf rust resistance versus quality. F1s can be immune to rust and still score over 90 points in cupping evaluations.

There are only a handful of F1 hybrid coffee varieties in the world, all developed by breeders in the last 20 years, and only recently commercially available to farmers. Commercial availability is currently limited to a few countries in Latin America (varieties include Centroamericano, Mundo maya, Starmaya, Milenio, Evaluna), as well as Kenya (Ruiru 11). For details on the above varieties, see: the Arabica Varieties Catalog.

It's important to note that F1 hybrids are more expensive and harder to mass produce—typically they need to be purchased from experienced nurseries via clonal propagation.

No. F1 hybrids in coffee are created using classic methods of plant breeding (collecting and transferring pollen manually from one flower to another, using a paintbrush). Modern genetics capabilities are used to speed up the process of selecting which plants are likely to be successful as parents.

There is no legal restriction on saving F1 seed, but it is extremely risky to do so. Seeds taken from F1 hybrid plants will not have the same characteristics as the parent plants. The child plant will not look or behave the same as the high-performing F1 parent. When a farmer saves and uses the seed of a good F1 plant on her farm (= the F2, or second generation originating from the initial cross), all the various combinations of the dominant and recessive traits from the two parent plants will be expressed in the F2 generation. The resulting plants will be extremely diverse—some taller, some shorter, some strong, some weak (this is called "segregation"). But very few will look and behave like the really amazing F1 she selected the seed from. The variation in performance of F2 plants can be economically devastating for farmers. It is therefore important for farmers to know that F1 hybrids should only be clonally propagated and purchased from trusted nurseries.

The choice about costs versus benefits belongs to the farmer. But F1 hybrids do offer economic benefits—typically F1 hybrid plants will have its first harvest two years after planting instead of 3-4 (an entire year of income generation added), plus increased yield of up to 50% every year that the plant is in production. The farmer will likely face fewer losses due to disease, and will maintain the ability for high cup-quality scores if they are in a suitable environment to produce it. But F1 hybrids also require additional maintenance costs, such as increased fertilizer application.