Innovea Network Meeting

November 17-21, 2025 · Manizales, Colombia

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Welcome to our Innovea Global Coffee Breeding Network meeting to be held on the campus of CENICAFE, in Manizales, Colombia, November 17 - 21, 2025.

During this week, we will share updates about the network, officially launch the global robusta breeding program, as well as learn about new genetic tools and phenotyping technologies for coffee breeding. CENICAFE will take us to their experimental farm to visit their coffee breeding experiments, quality and disease investigations lab, and propagation facilities.

The meeting is designed to foster technical discussion amongst coffee breeders across the collaborative network.

Key details

Dates: November 17-21, 2025
Location: CENICAFE Headquarters, Manizales, Colombia (map)
Hotel: Resort del Café (La Manuela, vereda Las Pavas, Manizales) (map)
Cost: WCR will cover the costs of participation for the lead breeder plus one other participant (optional) from each of our partner institutions, including flights to Colombia, accommodation, meals, and transport in Colombia. Participants need to make their own travel arrangements to/from their home airport.

Program

Pre-read materials

Meeting materials

Meeting minutes

Session 1

Travel instructions

Language and translation

All sessions will be delivered in English. We will use the live translation tool Wordly to provide real-time translation for non-native English speakers. Instructions for using Wordly will be provided at the meeting. To use Wordly, participants need access to an Android or Apple/Mac smart phone, tablet, or computer.

Speakers

We are excited to invite all participating countries to give a brief 10-minute presentation about their Innovea progress on day 1 of the meeting (Nov. 17). Instructions were sent by email. Send your materials by email to kraig@worldcoffeeresearch.org no later than November 4.

Travel information

Travel visas

As Colombia requires entry visas for travelers from many countries. WCR is supporting the coordination of Visa applications. Please be sure to bring a hard copy of your visa, visa receipt, and any other documents that may need to be presented at immigration (letter of invitation, vaccination documentation, etc.) with you on your journey to Colombia!

Hotel bookings

WCR is arranging all hotel bookings at the Resort del Café on behalf of attendees.

Flight bookings

Arrival airport is Matecaña International Airport in Pereira, Colombia. WCR is making all flight bookings on behalf of attendees.

What to pack

  • Clothing. It is hot and humid in Manizales in November, with occasional heavy rain. Please pack "business casual" clothes that are comfortable for days when we will be indoors meeting. We will also have a field visit one day; pack comfortable clothes suitable for walking in the field (close-toed shoes, long pants, raingear).
  • WCR tablet. If you have been issued a WCR tablet for data collection, please bring it!
  • Gift for gift exchange. We will do a gift exchange with network members. Please bring one item to contribute to the gift exchange that represents your country and/or its coffee sector (a bag of roasted coffee from your country, a cultural object, etc.)

Arrival information

All guests will arrive via the Matecaña International Airport in Pereira, Colombia. A driver will be there to greet you on arrival and transport you to the Hotel del Cafe.

If you experience travel interruption or delay, contact Claudia Bulia @ CALI Travel, +34 611 37 23 97.

Meals

All meals will be provided by WCR. Vegetarian and pork-free options will be available. If you have special dietary restrictions or requirements, please contact Maud Nicolas at maud@worldcoffeeresearch.org.

Key contacts

  • Visa, flight and logistics questions (in advance of travel)
    Maud Nicolas, WCR, maud@worldcoffeeresearch.org
  • Emergency contact (during travel to Colombia, e.g., flight delay/cancellation)
    Claudia Bulia @ CALI Travel, +34 611 37 23 97
  • Emergency contact (upon arrival to Colombia)
    Josué Arevalo Alvarenga, WCR, +503 7061 9731