Coffee

Coffee is the world's leading agricultural resource, in value terms. Coffee growing generates income and jobs in producing countries, and is primarily practised on small family farms.

CIRAD’s research is aimed at developing and promoting coffee production standards in line with the principles of sustainable development, that are also economically viable.

Promoting the ecological functions of coffee-based agroforestry systems: land management, landscape development, carbon balance, catchment area protection, biodiversity.
Fostering ecological intensification through integrated pest management, developing resistant varieties with a broader range of sensorial qualities, and better management of the resources in and ecological services rendered by agroforestry systems.
Assessing the impact of labels (organic, fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance) on how export supply chains are organized in producing countries.
Assessing the impact of product diversification on how agroforestry systems function, and on coffee producers’ incomes.

Appraisals

CIRAD’s experts can intervene at production sites or provide one-off support, assistance and advice missions. They also have laboratories and research greenhouses.

Studies, definition and establishment of trials, varietal and agronomic assessments, economic analyses, prospective analyses, disease surveys and diagnosis, technical support
Analysis of the conditions for introducing geographical indications or terroirs
Research and development project design and set-up
Laboratory analyses: soils, leaves, diseases, paternity, etc.
Sensorial and chemical analyses of green and roasted coffees
Mycotoxin analyses
Product traceability

Expertise

Biodiversity and exploitation of genetic resources

Genetic resource management, varietal creation, breeding, molecular and cellular biology, physiology
Seeds and reproduction systems (somatic embryogenesis, mass-produced cuttings, seed gardens)

Optimization of production

Insect, weed and disease control
Cropping practices and fertilization
Production mechanization, rural development and the environment
Postharvest techniques and analyses
Coffee promotion (origins, terroirs, etc.)

Modelling of coffee tree functioning

Computer, mathematical and statistical modelling
Carbon balance
Integration of coffee growing into national development operations

Development of sustainable disease resistance management strategies

Identification of fungal pathogens
Characterization of resistance sources
Identification of resistant varieties
Analysis of disease development in the field
Taking account of fungal constraints in crop cycles

Products and services

Products and services centring on coffee
Rational fertilization software using the soil diagnosis method for coffee: a computer program that facilitates interpretation of chemical analyses, to help agronomists manage soil mineral nutrition in coffee plantings
New arabica hybrids and rootstock varieties

Analyses

Near infrared spectroscopy: to identify and authenticate coffees using commercial green and roasted coffee spectral databases compiled by CIRAD
HPLC, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, etc: to identify the biochemical and chemical compounds in coffee (caffeine, fats, sugars, trigonelline, chlorogenic acids, diterpenes)
Analyses of coffee contamination by ochratoxin A: monitoring of processing methods and ochratoxin A titration (ISO 17025)

Training

Available training on coffee
Training in near infrared spectroscopy and analysis techniques for interpretation and modelling
Microbiology training with a view to identifying and culturing the moulds that produce ochratoxin A