Coffee producers in the world’s highest-production Arabica growing region, Minas Gerais, are reported to be testing Robusta varieties amid continuing climate change and harvest concerns.
Conilon, reported as the main testing varietal, can be grown in warmer temperatures and is a hardier crop than the Arabica beans typically grown in Cerrado Mineiro, which is situated in the north-west of Minas Gerais.
Reuters has reported Nestlé Agricultural Coffee Manager Rodolfo Clímaco as stating large Arabica producers in the region are trialling Conilon coffee.
Robusta coffee has grown in demand in recent years, with roughly 44 per cent of global coffee production now consisting of the species – a marked increase from 28 per cent in the early 1990s.
Any departure from Arabica coffee would be a monumental shift for Cerrado Mineiro, which, according to Brazil’s national crop agency, only grows Arabica.
The potential shift to the production of hardier coffee varietals in key South American regions could be in response to dipping harvest figures amid ongoing climate issues.
Currently, its 2024/25 harvest is expected to decline by between 3-8 per cent, with Arabica yields set to suffer most.
Overall, green bean exports from Brazil fell 34.1 per cent in April 2025 when compared to April 2024, for a total reduction of 1.45 million bags.
It has also been reported by the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé) that more than 600,000 bags of coffee failed to ship due to logistical bottlenecks.
