Nestlé and CNRA Unveil Breakthrough Coffee Mix: 86% Higher Yields from Six Robustas in Côte d'Ivoire
May 9 - 2026
Coffee Geography Magazine
A new research has revealed that planting a carefully selected blend of robusta coffee varieties can increase yields by up to 86 percent, offering a powerful new tool for farmers battling the effects of climate change.
The study, conducted in Côte d'Ivoire by the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences in collaboration with the country's National Centre for Agronomic Research (CNRA), found that a mix of six rigorously tested varieties dramatically outperforms the commonly used local plant variety while requiring the same level of inputs.
Since 2018, plant science experts have monitored 18 different robusta varieties across four coffee-growing regions. They evaluated each for yield, flavor, bean quality, drought tolerance, and overall performance under climate stress. After years of analysis, the six best-performing varieties—two developed by Nestlé and four by CNRA—were selected for further testing.
When planted together as a "varietal mix," the results were striking. Not only did yields surge, but the combination also showed enhanced resilience under climate stress and delivered superior cup quality. Sensory tests confirmed that coffee brewed from this mix has a smoother flavor, with notably less bitterness and fewer of the harsh, woody notes typically associated with robusta coffee.
Côte d'Ivoire is the third-largest coffee producer in Africa, but the sector has become increasingly vulnerable to climate variability. Shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures threaten crop health and the livelihoods of thousands of farmers. Improving the performance and reliability of coffee production has therefore become a top priority for local research and development.
"The country 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."
The six robusta varieties have now been officially registered in Côte d'Ivoire. The varietal mix will be made available to farmers through cooperatives under the Nescafé Plan, Nestlé's global sustainable coffee sourcing program. Nestlé's coffee plant breeding work in the country is led by experts at its experimental farm in Zambakro, in close collaboration with local partners and the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences Plant Sciences Department in Tours, France.
For Ivorian coffee farmers, the new mix represents a rare win-win: a path to significantly higher productivity without additional inputs, alongside a better-tasting product that could command a premium in the global market.