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Advancing Coffee Genetic Resource Conservation and Exchange: Global Perspectives and Strategies from the ICC 2024 Satellite Workshop
1 , 2 , * 3 , 4
1  Global Crop Diversity Trust, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 7, 53113 Bonn, Germany
2  Coffee Consulate, Hans-Thoma-Strasse 20, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
3  Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, 76187 Karlsruhe, Germany
4  RD2 Vision, 60 rue du Carignan, 34270 Valflaunès, France
Academic Editor: Yves Zimmermann

https://doi.org/10.3390/ICC2024-18177 (registering DOI)
Abstract:

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. A majority of coffee genetic resources originates 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 have been 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 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 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.

Keywords: coffee genetic resources; climate resilience; Nagoya Protocol; Plant Treaty; benefit-sharing; genetic diversity; international regulations

 
 
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