When we visited ICAFE today, it was refreshing to see a different side of the coffee industry. We’ve really gone in depth looking at the farming, cleaning, and roasting of the coffee beans. So when we were able to step into a research lab, I felt like there was a whole new side to the coffee industry.

One of the most interesting parts of the tour was the research on the coffee fungus. A large part of the research facility is focused on studying plants’ resistance to the 7 most common fungi found in Costa Rican coffee plants. They had specimen at different stages of the spores growth. It was incredible to see the first signs of the fungus, and hear about what is being done to stop it when at these early stages and potential causes. Our tour guide, Alejandra, told us that sometimes another fungus can be added to the plant that will have a reversing effect. In other cases, the root cause of the fungus must be found and stopped to prevent the growth from forming.

The system where in the coffee exporters must pay ICAFE to export their product seems to be very successful. This seems to hold both ICAFE and coffee exporters responsible for doing a good job as it affects their own salary due to their cyclical relationship. It seems as though the farmers can ask for help with researching any dysfunctional step in the coffee making process. However, mostly large sites are studied more frequently. During the growing season, pesticide use is important, knowing how much and how often to use it. It is also important to know how climate change will affect the treatment necessary for the crop to thrive. Even after the harvest, there’s research conducted on the soil, analyzing the richness that remains after the season by identifying which elements are in highest concentration.

The only inconvenient part of the ICAFE system is that in some instances, large companies may not want to pay the tax to ICAFE as they can afford to have their own research done as necessary. Perhaps these companies may feel as though their process is already perfected and feel an extra cost of research to innovate new methods is unnecessary. Regardless, since ICAFE also acts as a quality control and health board for the coffee exported from the country, these companies cannot avoid paying for their service.