BRAZIL – The São Paulo government’s plan to put on sale farms and properties that contain unique specimens of various coffee species and contains the world’s oldest population of Arabica coffee plants.
The farms and properties, deemed financially burdensome, is found in an area within Fazenda Santa Elisa, part of the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC), located in the city of Campinas in São Paulo’s countryside.
Fazenda Santa Elisa is home to Brazil’s largest coffee germplasm bank and one of the largest globally. Experts describe it as a living archive of the genetic material for coffee plants.
The experimental area contains approximately 5,000 “accessions,” representing different coffee varieties, many of which are considered rare or endangered.
With the growth of Campinas, the coffee germplasm bank now finds itself in a prime location in the Taquaral neighborhood, surrounded by residential condominiums.
However, São Paulo’s secretary of agriculture, Guilherme Piai, confirmed the government’s intention to auction off farms and properties that impose high costs on the state and offer limited social or economic returns.
The IAC’s management stated that the decision regarding the bank’s future lies with the São Paulo government. However, the news has sparked concern among agricultural research professionals.
“The IAC board only informed us that the government could sell this area,” said Gerson Giomo, an agronomist and coffee researcher at the institute for the past 20 years.
“We weren’t consulted on whether the plants could be transferred or given a chance to provide technical recommendations.”
The Department of Agriculture and Supply stated it is conducting studies to assess the feasibility of selling certain properties.
“Only after completing this survey will any action be decided. The measure has no impact on research conducted by the department and its affiliated bodies,” the department said in a statement.
According to the Association of Scientific Researchers of the State of São Paulo (APqC), the state government recently commissioned the mapping and dismemberment of the farm, including a 70,000-square-meter plot called São José.
This plot houses unique specimens of various coffee species and contains the world’s oldest population of Arabica coffee plants.
The APqC argues that the dismemberment reflects the government’s intent to proceed with plans to sell experimental areas of the IAC and other regional farms.
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