New research conducted in Côte d’Ivoire shows that planting a mix of six rigorously tested and validated robusta coffee varieties can increase yields by up to 86 percent, using the same inputs as traditional local practices where only a single variety is planted.
Coffee production in Côte d’Ivoire plays an important role in farmer livelihoods, but the sector is increasingly exposed to climate variability and productivity constraints. Improving the performance and reliability of coffee production has therefore become a priority for local research and development efforts.
The new findings come from multi-year research carried out by the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences in collaboration with the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA). Since 2018, plant science experts from both organizations have studied 18 robusta varieties across four coffee-growing regions in Côte d’Ivoire. They evaluated yield, flavor, bean quality, drought tolerance, and overall performance under climate stress. Six varieties demonstrated consistently strong results, two bred and selected by Nestlé and four by CNRA.
Further trials showed that planting these six varieties together delivers the strongest results by boosting yield while enhancing performance under climate stress and overall cup quality. Sensory tests confirmed that coffee made from this robusta mix has a smoother flavor, with less bitterness and fewer woody notes typically associated with robusta coffee.
The new varieties have now been officially registered in Côte d’Ivoire and will be made available to producers through cooperatives under the Nescafé Plan, Nestlé’s sustainable coffee sourcing program.
“Côte d’Ivoire, the third-largest coffee producer in Africa, is feeling the effects of climate change, with shifting rainfall and rising temperatures impacting crop health and yield,” said Hubert Coffi, Agronomy Manager for the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Côte d’Ivoire. “Together with partners such as CNRA, we are exploring resilient coffee varieties to help protect farmers’ livelihoods and ensure consumers can continue to enjoy great-tasting coffee in the future.”
Nestlé’s coffee plant breeding work in Côte d’Ivoire is led by experts at its experimental farm in Zambakro, in collaboration with local research partners and the Plant Sciences Department of the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Tours, France.
In parallel, Nestlé’s experts work closely with local farmers to improve agricultural practices. At Zambakro, farmers receive hands-on training in regenerative agriculture, supporting the long-term viability of coffee production.
These efforts build on Nestlé’s work using classical breeding methods to develop high-yielding, disease- and drought-tolerant coffee plant varieties suited to evolving local growing conditions in key coffee-producing countries. The varieties are developed, tested under real farm conditions, and made available to farmers. Other recent examples include the development of Roubi 1 and Roubi 2, two robusta varieties delivering up to 50% higher yields in Mexico, and Star 4, a novel Arabica variety with larger beans and resistance to coffee leaf rust, registered in Brazil.
