São Paulo launches program to encourage the cultivation of Canephora Coffee

In an action to strengthen the coffee sector and boost the regional rural economy, the Government of the State of São Paulo, through the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply, launches the State Program to Incentive the Cultivation of Coffea Canephora this Thursday (31).

The initiative, which aims to revitalize coffee farming in the Central-West, West and Northwest regions of the state, offers alternatives for rural producers and increases the competitiveness of the sector, reaffirming the state's commitment to sustainable agricultural development, employment and income generation.

São Paulo was once a reference in coffee production in the country, as one of the main producing states of Arabica coffee. The program aims to increase the state's production by encouraging the cultivation of a new type of bean - canephora - to meet the growing demand of the domestic and international markets, fostering innovation, environmental and economic sustainability of coffee farming.

To this end, the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply, in partnership with the Coffee Sector Chamber, will work together with the São Paulo Agribusiness Technology Agency (Apta), the Comprehensive Technical Assistance Coordination (Cati) and the São Paulo State Land Institute Foundation (Itesp), in addition to counting on support from the private sector, especially those collegiate in the Coffee Sector Chamber.

"The program involves the public sector and the private sector, in line with the priorities of the São Paulo government. With researchers and technicians from SAA and the collaboration of the production sector, the expectation is for coffee farming to become increasingly resilient, with producers who are environmentally and financially sustainable and adapted to climate change," says Secretary Guilherme Piai.

According to the Coordinator of the Sector Chambers, José Carlos de Faria Junior, with a participatory management model, in partnership with the private sector, the Coffea Canephora SP program aims to be a national reference in public policies, encouraging sustainable coffee production, ensuring efficient governance and strengthening integration between the various links in the production chain and entities in the sector.

Check out the guidelines of the State Program to Encourage the Cultivation of Coffea canephora in the State of São Paulo:

- Validate and disseminate technologies related to the cultivation of Coffea canephora, adapted to the soil and climate conditions, especially in Western São Paulo;

- Stimulate the production of seedlings with high genetic and phytosanitary quality, ensuring crop sustainability;

- Implement technological showcases and pilot areas in strategic locations, aiming to demonstrate best practices and results obtained;

- Train technicians and rural producers through lectures, training, field days and other knowledge transfer events;

- Promote public-private partnerships, encouraging the participation of companies in the roasting, solubilization, machinery, implements, irrigation and marketing sectors.

Canephora

Canephora coffee (conilon and robusta) is one of the two main coffee species grown commercially, alongside arabica coffee. Canephora accounts for about 40% of the world's coffee production. The largest producers of Canephora are Vietnam, followed by countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, India and Uganda. Vietnam leads the global export market for robusta, with much of it destined for the production of instant coffee.

Although Brazil is best known for its Arabica coffee, Canephora production has been growing, especially in the states of Espírito Santo, Bahia and Rondônia. Approximately 30% of coffee production in Brazil is Canephora. Espírito Santo accounts for approximately 65% ​​of the Canephora produced in Brazil, followed by RO and BA. Now, with this Program, São Paulo may start to be included in this statistic in the medium term.

The demand for Canephora coffee has been growing worldwide, especially for the instant coffee market and as a base for coffee blends, due to its characteristic of providing a fuller-bodied drink with less acidity. Currently, the price paid to the producer is close to the price of Arabica coffee and, with its higher productivity, it becomes a good business and an opportunity for rural producers in São Paulo.

Benefits

Canephora is better adapted to warmer and more humid climates, performing well in regions with these conditions, such as western São Paulo. On average, Canephora has a 60% higher productivity, according to the National Supply Company (Conab).