In Celebration of International Coffee Day, TTF introduces the Awake Campaign

Written by Katie Modic

Happy World Coffee Day! In the lead up to today, International Coffee Day, the Tropics Foundation has been engaging with stakeholders around the world in our Awake Campaign an awareness building campaign with a goal of waking us all up to the importance of safeguarding coffee's genetic biodiversity. Click on the images linked below to see highlights from the campaign including CATIE's behind the scenes conservation efforts, the partners who make our work possible, and events to bring you closer to the action! SUPPORT THE AWAKE CAMPAIGN What is so special about CATIE's Coffee Collection & Research? #1: It ensures we have climate resilient varieties. Of the 125 coffee species in the world, global coffee production is based on only two – Arabica and Canephora – & we drink just a few varieties of each! CATIE's researchers advance knowledge & access to pest and disease tolerant varieties so the industry can maintain production despite the changing climate #2:  It safeguards coffee's genetic diversity. CATIE conserves 12 different species of coffee, 91% being focused on Coffee Arabica making it the most important genebank for Arabica in the Western Hemisphere! CATIE has over 2,000 accessions from Ethiopia, Yemen, Kenya, India, Tanzania, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and many other countries.  #3:  Its assets are open to the public. CATIE is the only Origin Coffee genebank world wide that is open to the public. CATIE's collections are part of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and are therefore available to users internationally, ensuring producers can access quality varieties & keep their farms productive.  SUPPORT CATIE'S COFFEE COLLECTION What do farmers say ? Award-winning coffee producer Price Peterson reflects on the early years of Geisha and the importance of the international coffee treasure at CATIE for the industry's future READ HIS REFLECTIONS Our Contact Information The Tropics Foundation Atlanta, GA info@thetropicsfoundation.org www.tropicsfoundation.org About The Tropics Foundation The Tropics Foundation stimulates and promotes inclusive sustainable development and conservation in the American Tropics by providing resources and opportunities to support higher education, research, and outreach