STiR coffee and tea magazine

10 STiR coffee and tea / Issue 3, 2017 (June/July) NEWS Starmaya Coffee Hybrid Could 'Reshape Coffee' Starmaya is a new coffee hybrid developed by CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development) that will soon begin field tests under the direction of ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. and World Coffee Research. It is the first variety of its kind: An F1 hybrid that is propagated by seed, rather than costly biotechnology. The innovation will give growers access to an elite class of varieties that could dramatically reshape the industry. F1 hybrids have the potential to combine traits that matter most to farmers— higher yields and disease resistance—with the trait that matters most to consumers— taste, a combination that has been difficult to attain in the past. But F1 hybrids are limited by a key constraint: Currently, they can only be produced by technically sophisticated nurseries. While "best in class," almost no farmers have access to them. Starmaya may change that. Learn more: worldcoffeeresearch.org Starmaya is a new F1 high-yield coffee hybrid Photo courtesy World Coffee Research Pricing Volatility Reflects Positive Outlook The International Coffee Organi- zation (ICO) noted a sharp drop in green coffee prices in April, due in large part to investors selling long positions acquired months ago during a period of unusually high volatility. Exports of arabica during the first half of the 2016/17 coffee harvest are estimated to be up by 4.8% to 60 million bags. Prices were down 6.9% for the month of April hitting a low of $1.22 per pound. Very high export volumes have ensured that consumer stocks are well supplied. At the end of December 2016, stocks of green coffee in importing countries reached 23.5 million bags, compared to 23 million in December 2015. Umami Area Hosts Vietnam Coffee Camp Umami Area is a cultural organiza- tion of food and beverage experts who share tasting experiences. The association hosts various events including "I drink quality coffee," the "Umami barista camp," and the annual "Umami coffee camp." The association's mission is to dispel the culture of "fast food" in favor of a culture that values the senses, simple recipes and conviviality, according to associa- tion president Andrej Godina. In July the group will launch a coffee academy in Jakarta. The association will host its second 10-day Umami coffee camp in Vietnam from Sept. 22 to Oct. 10. The next meeting is in November in Seoul, Korea during the World Cafe Expo. Learn more: www.umamiarea.com HostMilano in October HostMilano has attracted global attention for nearly a quarter of a century as a premiere venue for the coffee industry at the 40th annual International Hospitality Exhibition. The International Coffee Exhibition runs from Oct. 20-24 in Fiera Milano Rho where 480 companies from 37 countries are expected to exhibit. Segments represented include roasting and espresso equipment, services, vending machines, and coffees. Coffee grew globally by 2.7% in 2016 with three of the top five markets with the strongest growth in the 2012-2016 five year period - Indonesia (19.6% CAGR), India (15.1%), and Vietnam (14.9%) – were Asian. Exquisite Italian espresso to single-origin specialities, will emerge at HostMilano, in all its facets, in dozens of demos, tastings, and lectures attended by the main industry players and the leading baristas. Organizers promise a rich schedule of high-level events for the exhibition Learn more: http://host.fieramilano.it/en/the-event

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