Costa Rica Uses NFTs to Fund Coffee Research
A new partnership between the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre (CATIE) and the Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica (SCACR) will help launch an NFT collection that is inspired by 12 of CATIE’s coffee varietals to help fund coffee conservation and research. The auction will be organized through the NFT distribution company BIOCENFT, with proceeds specifically allocated towards the promotion of CATIE’s International Coffee Collection, which serves as the world’s fourth largest.
Inspired by the Geisha, Wush-Wush, Mibirizi, Hava, Rume Sudan, ER-47, SL-28, SL-34, Centroamericano, Milenio, Esperanza, and Casiopea varieties, each of the 12 NFTs features a unique design that showcases the unique characteristics of each coffee variety. Noelia Villalobos, SCACR’s Executive Director, believes that leveraging NFTs will amplify awareness regarding coffee biodiversity, consolidating CATIE and SCACR’s conservation endeavors. With the proceeds, research and development would be tailored towards the creation of pest and disease-resistant coffee strains, while helping to enhance and elevate Costa Rican coffee standards that fall in alignment with global marketing campaigns targeting untapped markets.
