Nestle : Researchers decode the DNA of the Robusta coffee bean
September 04, 2014 at 03:09 pm
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Sep 4, 2014
Researchers decode the DNA of the Robusta coffee bean
A team of researchers from around the world have sequenced the DNA of the Robusta coffee bean in an important step that could lead to future developments to improve the bean's yield, quality and resistance to disease and drought, and to increase farmer incomes.
The study was led by the French Institute of Research for Development, the French National Sequencing Centre and the University of Buffalo. Nestlé, through its scientists at the Nestlé Research and Development Center in Tours, France, was the only private sector organisation to contribute to the study.
The coffee genome work is part of Nestlé's broader research programme in plant science that will help the company ensure a sustainable supply of high quality raw materials, including cocoa and coffee.
The study's full findings will be published in the journal Science and be made available on September 5.
In their work, the researchers found that the sequences and positions of the genes in Coffea canephora, the coffee plant commonly referred to as Robusta, evolved independently from genes with similar functions in tea and cocoa, which also make caffeine.
By looking at the relationship between the genome structure of Robusta and other species like tea and cocoa, researchers were able to learn about coffee's independent pathway in evolution.
Robusta has a stronger and harsher flavour profile compared with the smoother and richer one of the other major coffee bean, Arabica.
Nestlé S.A. is the world's leading agri-food group. Net sales break down by category of products as follows:
- powdered and liquid beverages (26.7%): soluble coffees (Nescafé and Starbucks brands), coffee in capsules (Nespresso), chocolate drinks (Nesquik, Milo, etc.), tea drinks (Nestea), etc.;
- pet food (20.3%): brands such as Purina, Friskies, Felix, etc.;
- pharmaceutical, nutrition and well-being products (16.4%): nutritional supplements (Resource, Boost, Nutren, Optifast, Peptamen brands, etc.), infant and maternal nutrition products (NAN, illuma, Cerelac, Nido, Gerber), ketogenic beverages (BrainXpert), (Nesquick, Fitness, Cheerios, Lion, etc.), etc.;
- ready meals and seasoning products (12.5%): frozen and chilled dishes (Lean Cuisine, Hot Pockets and Stouffer's brands), soups (Maggi), etc.;
- dairy products and ice cream (11.8%): powdered milk, sweetened condensed milk, yoghurt and cream desserts, ice cream (Nido, Nesvita, Carnation, La Laitière, Coffee Mate, Nestlé Ice Cream, Dreyers, Häagen-Dazs, Extrême brands, etc.);
- chocolates, sweets and biscuits (8.7%): Kit Kat, Smarties, Cailler, Terrafertil, etc. brands;
- bottled waters (3.6%): Nestlé Pure Life, Vittel, Perrier, S. Pellegrino, etc. brands.
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: Switzerland (1.2%), France (3.8%), the United Kingdom (3.8%), Germany (2.4%), Europe (12.8%), the United States and Canada (35%), China (5.9%), Asia and Oceania (21.4%) and Latin America (13.7%).