The new variety is characterised by its larger bean size and coffee leaf rust resistance
Nestlé plant scientists and agronomists have developed Star 4, a novel high-yielding Arabica coffee variety. Selected in Brazil for its resilience, the new variety also possesses the characteristic taste of Brazilian coffee.
“We are proud to make another important step towards resilient coffee supply chains, ensuring that consumers can continue to enjoy great coffee in the future. The new variety is characterised by its larger bean size and coffee leaf rust resistance. Our field trials have demonstrated that using similar inputs, the yields of Star 4 are substantially higher than the two most used Brazilian local varieties, which reduces its carbon footprint,” says Jeroen Dijkman, Head of Nestlé’s Institute of Agricultural Sciences.
Reduced GHG emissions from higher coffee yields are attributed to improved plant productivity as well as farming methods. Marcelo Burity, Nestlé’s Head of Green Coffee Development, says: “Optimizing cultivation practices remains vital as they are the primary factor contributing to the environmental impact of a cup of coffee.” The largest share of GHG emissions in the process of obtaining ground coffee originates from its cultivation.