Costa Rica will lift a 30-year ban on Robusta coffee trees, a crop that is considered of lower quality than Arabica but that is more resistant to diseases and rising temperatures, confirmed the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Ministry of Agriculture’s resolution, will allow the production of robusta varieties, a crop that was banned since 1998 for phytosanitary reasons that are no longer relevant; back then the purpose of banning the crop was to avoid the entry to the county of the coffee borer beetle which is among the most harmful pests to coffee crops across the world, however, this pest has been in the country for several years now.

In addition to the fact that the phytosanitary reasons are no longer relevant the government sees this as an opportunity to create jobs and reactivate the economy in low lands and areas that gather the conditions for this crop, areas too hot and humid for arabica and where the crop of choice is pineapple.

“It’s a decree for the cultivation of robusta in specific areas that the national coffee institute ICAFE will determine so there is no mixing of the varieties, including the post-harvest processes,” explained Costa Rica’s Minister of Agriculture Luis Felipe Arauz; in other words ICAFE will determine where the crops can be planted and what varieties will be allowed.

Yet, this opened the door to controversy since some in the industry see robusta as a threat to Costa Rica’s global reputation as an exporter of high-quality arabica beans. The quality of Costa Rica’s coffee is recognized internationally and allows the county one of the highest yields and differentials in the coffee industry of average $50.00 per quintal ( a quintal is equal to 46 kilograms).

The decree still needs to be signed by President Luis Guillermo Solis before it goes in effect.