Climate change alters coffee harvest in Costa Rica and raises production costs

Variations in rainfall and temperatures above 25 °C alter coffee flowering and bean development in Costa Rica. (REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli/Archive) Climate change affects coffee cultivation in Costa Rica due to variations in the rainfall and temperature patterns that coffee plantations require. Lower-altitude plantations are among the most exposed, according to CR Hoy, based on data from the Coffee Institute and studies by the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (Catie). The coffee plant needs a defined dry season and a subsequent period of rain to develop under suitable conditions. When rainfall loses regularity and temperatures exceed 25 °C, difficulties can arise in flowering, bean development, and sun-drying the coffee. These conditions can also alter harvest cycles, increase production costs, and favor the presence of pests and diseases. The traditional Caturra and Catuaí varieties are among the most susceptible to problems such as coffee leaf rust. Costa Rica's seven coffee-growing regions are exposed to climate variability, although crops located below 1,000 meters above sea level experience the effects most intensely. Research by Catie recorded negative consequences in Turrialba, the Atlantic slope, and Naranjo. Coffee plantations located at less than 1,000 meters of altitude register the greatest impacts from climate variability. (REUTERS/Jose Roberto Gomes/Archive) The Coffee Institute also identified the Western Central Valley, located between Alajuela and San Ramón, as one of the most vulnerable areas. The region has a drier climate and rains can arrive late, even during years associated with El Niño or La Niña phenomena. In Pérez Zeledón and Coto Brus, the crop faces a different scenario due to excessive rainfall. The Los Santos region maintains more balanced climatic conditions, although it also registers changes in its usual patterns, according to CR Hoy. Coffee grower Josué Navarro indicated that in Dota rainfall has decreased, although it occurs with greater intensity when it does happen. As he described, harvest periods previously had clearer boundaries. Currently, flowers and ripe beans can coexist year-round within the same plantation. This situation makes harvesting difficult because the fruit does not ripen uniformly. Christian Chinchilla, general manager of Coopedota, told CR Hoy that the cooperative went through years with excessive rainfall. This year, however, the Los Santos region recorded a lower amount of rain. The Caturra and Catuaí varieties are among the most vulnerable to coffee leaf rust and other pests associated with rising temperatures. (REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli) The manager explained that harvesting used to coincide with dry summers. That coincidence occurs less frequently, which can complicate harvest work and the subsequent drying stages. High temperatures add another challenge for producers. Above 25 °C, heat can limit flowering and affect bean formation, which may reduce in size or fail to complete their development. Climate variations can affect both the volume and the quality of production. The response of each farm depends on factors such as altitude, rainfall, temperature, and soil condition. The Coffee Institute began distributing seeds of the Costa Rica 95 variety in 2025. The program plans to reach 5,000 producers over the next three years, although new plants can take up to two years to generate significant production. The varieties developed by the institution aim to tolerate higher temperatures, have deeper roots, and recover more quickly from adverse conditions. The goal includes sustaining productivity and bean quality. The lack of regularity in rainfall complicates harvesting by causing flowers and ripe beans to coexist on the same plant. (EFE/Gustavo Amador) The genetic improvement process combines more resistant coffee plants and incorporates materials from Ethiopia, the country of origin of coffee. Costa Rica has preserved these materials for decades. The renewal of plantations will be gradual, as each producer will have to replace the coffee plants in stages. This process takes time before the plants reach full production. At Coopedota, they consider it too early to establish the performance of the recent varieties. The cooperative is studying other options, while Navarro tests different materials to determine which adapt best to the characteristics of his farm. Elías de Melo, coordinator of the Master's Program in Sustainable and Regenerative Coffee Farming at Catie, argued that the restructuring of the activity can influence the continuity of the operations. "Producers who are isolated," he warned, "are at extremely high risk of disappearing." De Melo recommended controlling humidity and temperature within the coffee plantations through microclimate management. Among the alternatives, he mentioned the use of shade trees during the summer and a reduction of that cover during the rainy season. The implementation of sensors with artificial intelligence makes it possible to measure soil conditions and adjust fertilization on the farms. (REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli/Archive) The measures include smart pruning, micro-irrigation, ground cover, and the recovery of depleted land or land affected by disease. The specialist suggested applying biological inputs instead of chemical products for part of these tasks. The transformation of the farms requires investments and gradual implementation. Some reference properties recorded positive results in long-term studies that involved the participation of the University of Costa Rica and Earth University. Navarro incorporated artificial intelligence sensors on his farm to monitor soil conditions. With these records, he adjusts fertilization according to the needs detected in the different areas of the land.