Geisha Coffe Supply Chain: Competitiveness and Agro- Industrial Impact in Panama

Abstract

The supply chain for Panamanian Geisha coffee spanning primary production through to domestic and international marketing, including logistics and stakeholder coordination—strengthens the product's competitiveness and contributes to the country's economic development. Cultivated primarily in the highlands of Boquete and Volcán in Chiriquí Province, Panamanian Geisha coffee has become a global benchmark for specialty coffees, achieving record prices at international auctions such as the $30,204 per kilogram paid for a Hacienda La Esmeralda lot at the "Best of Panama 2025" auction. This study employs a documentary and descriptive approach based on the analysis of secondary sources. Its objective is to analyze the Geisha coffee supply chain in Panama, as well as its competitiveness and agro-industrial impact. The results reveal that, despite its international prestige, the Geisha coffee supply chain faces structural limitations regarding road infrastructure, traceability, certification, financing, and small-producer participation in value-added activities, alongside increasing exposure to the effects of climate change. Key findings indicate that consolidating the competitiveness of Panamanian Geisha coffee requires more efficient coordination among production, processing, export logistics, and public policy to enable a more equitable distribution of the economic benefits generated throughout the supply chain.