Christophe Montagnon

Coffee leaves have long been used to prepare tea-like beverages, yet the chemical–sensory characterization of coffee leaf infusions remains limited compared with the extensive literature on coffee beverages. Here, we applied a sensomic framework to profile volatile composition and sensory attributes of Coffea leaf infusions prepared under hot- and cold-brewing conditions. Using HS-SPME–GC–MS, 85 volatile compounds were annotated and associated with odor descriptors. These data were integrated with descriptive sensory profiling from a trained panel, enabling the identification of patterns linking volatile fingerprints to both desirable attributes and sensory defects across brewing modalities. Overall, the study proposes candidate quality markers and provides an evidence base to support process and preparation optimization as coffee leaf infusions approach broader commercialization in the European market, contributing to the valorization of coffee by-products.

Resilience has become a central objective in crop improvement, yet its meaning varies depending on the scale and time frame considered. In coffee ( Coffea arabica L.), cultivars are often described as “resilient” when they perform reliably across environments or tolerate major pests and diseases. However, resilience in its strict sense refers to the capacity to recover from sudden and unexpected shocks. To explore how these different understandings are perceived, we conducted a two-phase Delphi survey in Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer and a country with a long history of cultivar development. In phase one, 76 researchers and 31 stakeholders were consulted to identify definitions and traits associated with resilience in plants and cultivars. In phase two, 100 stakeholders from the Brazilian coffee sector were asked to identify resilient Arabica cultivars based on these traits. Consensus was assessed based on agreement rates across rounds. The survey revealed two distinct meanings of resilience: an academic definition emphasizing recovery from unexpected disturbances, and a stakeholder-oriented definition centered on agronomic robustness, including adaptability, tolerance to stresses, yield stability, and cup quality. Among cultivars, Catuaí and Mundo Novo—widely grown since the 1970s and 1950s respectively—were most frequently cited as resilient, followed by the more recently released Arara cultivar. While Arara meets many expectations from Brazilian coffee farmers and markets, only the long historical performance of Catuaí and Mundo Novo allows them to be considered resilient in the original sense of the term. We conclude that breeders can select for stability and tolerance, but true resilience can only be revealed over decades of cultivation and exposure to unforeseen events. Time is therefore the ultimate criterion in distinguishing cultivars that are merely well-adapted from those that are truly resilient.

Rapa Nui preserves an isolated lineage of Coffea arabica var. Typica with remarkable genetic purity, high homozygosity, and distinctive biochemical and sensory traits. Integrated genetic, sensory, and chemical analyses reveal its potential as a unique clonal reservoir with value for conservation and climate resilience. These findings highlight the island’s relevance for specialty coffee, sustainable development, and diversification of global Arabica genetic resources.

Climate change poses a growing threat to global coffee production, particularly for Coffea arabica, the most widely cultivated species. Coffea canephora (Robusta), with greater tolerance to heat and environmental stress, represents a critical genetic resource for sustaining future supply. Despite its increasing importance, the species is still relatively understudied with respect to population structure and trait architecture—factors that are important for guiding breeding efforts. Here, we combine population genetic analyses with genomic prediction to inform the improvement of C. canephora using a representative breeding collection from West Africa. First, we characterized the genetic structure of the cultivated germplasm and confirmed the presence of three main genetic pools: Robusta, Conilon, and Guinean. Second, we quantified phenotypic variation and genetic parameters for 11 agronomic traits, demonstrating a significant contribution of non-additive effects—particularly for yield. Third, we evaluated the performance of genomic prediction models incorporating additive and dominance effects, and proposed their integration into a reciprocal recurrent selection scheme to exploit heterosis. Altogether, our findings highlight the utility of incorporating structured genetic diversity and non-additive effects into breeding strategies. The framework presented here provides a foundation for improving the predictive accuracy and long-term adaptability of C. canephora, with broader implications for genomic-assisted breeding under climate stress.

The International Coffee Convention 2024 (ICC2024) continued the discussions initiated at ICC2023, focusing on coffee's transition and the industry's challenges. The event, held in October in Mannheim, started with a welcome speech from Vanúsia Nogueira, the Executive Director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO), and brought together leading industry figures, experts, and stakeholders. The convention examined multiple aspects of the coffee sector, including the future landscape of coffee species, particularly the potential of _Coffea canephora_ and other species such as _C. racemosa_ and _C. stenophylla_. A key highlight was an exclusive satellite workshop, organized in partnership with the Global Crop Diversity Trust, the Coffee Consulate, RD2Vision, and supported by the ICO, which addressed the use of coffee genetic resources within the framework of the Nagoya Protocol. Coffee production's environmental footprint emerged as a central theme of the conference, with discussions covering deforestation policies, fermentation techniques, and processing methods. The sessions explored innovations in coffee preparation and business, from roasting techniques to crafting the perfect Café Crème. The program included analyses of coffee's nutritional impacts, health benefits and risks, and the evidence supporting health claims. The sustainable use of coffee by-products was also featured, stressing both challenges and opportunities. ICC2024 gathered international experts who shared scientific knowledge and practical insights. The convention ended with the presentation of the Kaldi Award, recognizing significant contributions to the coffee industry. Through this comprehensive program, ICC2024 contributed to shaping coffee's future by facilitating truly interdisciplinary knowledge exchange and addressing key industry challenges and opportunities.

Climate change poses significant threats to coffee supply chains, highlighting the crucial role of coffee genetic resources in enhancing resilience and improving the livelihoods of coffee farmers. Increasing climate change effects are intensifying pressure to develop new high-performance resilient varieties. Current cultivated coffee species include Coffea arabica and C. canephora, while uncultivated genetic resources include C. stenophylla, C. racemosa, and many others among the 130 known coffee species. To protect and recognize the property rights of countries and people hosting and conserving genetic resources, the international community has developed regulations embodied in the Plant Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol, among others. The majority of coffee genetic resources originate in Africa and are maintained in large field collections, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. The 2023 International Coffee Convention (ICC) highlighted the need for community awareness in applying these international regulations. To foster a common understanding and establish precise rules for exchanging coffee genetic resources, the Crop Trust and the International Coffee Organization organized an invitation-only satellite workshop in Mannheim, Germany, on 16 October 2024, in connection with ICC 2024. International experts on the Nagoya Protocol and Plant Treaty and genebank experts were invited to participate. This presentation summarizes key outcomes from the workshop, covering topics such as (i) key requirements of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), its Nagoya Protocol, and the Plant Treaty specifically applicable to the coffee sector; (ii) assessment of the coffee sector’s readiness to implement these international regulations for the transparent use and exchange of coffee genetic resources; (iii) suggestions for mechanisms enabling transparent use and exchange of coffee genetic resources in compliance with international regulations; (iv) evaluation of strategies for generating benefits for communities hosting coffee genetic resources; (v) a practical, user-friendly checklist to ensure the correct handling of coffee genetic resources in line with international regulations; and (vi) a practical decision-making tree with examples to differentiate genetic resources falling under Nagoya/CBD and the Plant Treaty from others. The workshop’s discussions and outcomes expanded on these topics, yielding several concrete initiatives and recommendations. Most importantly, the workshop identified critical gaps in existing coffee genetic resource collections and proposed a global safety duplication strategy. Participants conceptualized a global platform to facilitate the exchange and use of coffee genetic resources, including a centralized database and a system for tracking benefit-sharing obligations. A comprehensive list categorizing coffee varieties based on their status under the Nagoya Protocol may be initiated to clarify access and benefit-sharing requirements. The workshop concluded with a clear roadmap for advancing coffee genetic resource conservation and exchange.

The genetic conformity of the cultivated varieties of coffee is key for the sustainability of coffee growing. In the past years, various studies have shown that genetic conformity was overall low. This situation is mainly due to a lack of professionalization in the coffee seed sector. However, this can impact the economic performance of growers who expect yield, disease resistance, and/or cup quality from their coffee plants. With the sponsorship of Lavazza, RD2 Vision has launched the “Coffee Genetic Discovery”. The aim of “Coffee Genetic Discovery” is twofold: to democratize the genetic analysis of cultivated coffee varieties and provide guidelines for improving the professionalization of the coffee seed sector. Coffee growers (Coffea arabica for this first edition) from 24 countries took part in a draw. One hundred winners benefited from a free genetic analysis of their favorite coffee plants. Each grower received the results individually. Most participants were from Central America and Mexico (50%), followed by Asia (23%) and then Africa (14%) and South America (13%). A total of 73% of the participants had an idea of what their cultivar was, while 27% had no idea. Most submitted samples were from the Core Ethiopian genetic group, which includes Geisha, Chiroso, and Sidra, showing the interest of farmers for cultivars with a high cup quality. Two thirds of the supposed cultivars were genetically conformed, while one third was not. This confirms the need for a more professional seed sector.

It all began with Arabica coffee seeds that crossed the Red Sea from Ethiopia to Yemen. It continued with seeds smuggled out of Yemen in various directions. Gesha, one of the cultivars producing the most expensive coffees in the world, went from Ethiopia to Tanzania, Kenya, Costa Rica and, finally, Panama, where it would become famous. Who would have thought that the main genetic solution to the devastating Coffee Leaf Rust disease would come from an unlikely natural cross between two species—Coffea canephora and Coffea arabica—introduced from Africa to the little-known Timor island in Southeast Asia? It is these numerous and uncontrolled movements of plant material that have shaped the genetic improvement of the Arabica coffee plant. It is highly likely that the present and future challenges facing the coffee sector will require new exchanges of plant material. We can already see that species that could be of interest in tackling climate change, for instance, C. racemosa, C. stenophylla, C. zanguebariae, are still in their natural African habitat. They will have to be studied and tested in different environments. A new wave of genetic material exchange will be needed from their natural habitat or domestication center to various coffee-producing countries from various Coffea species. This will first be so for agronomic research and then for actual production. However, in the 21st century, it is fortunately compulsory to perform this ethically and in compliance with international regulations. The coffee scientific community needs to be prepared and aligned.