How climate change threatens one of our favorite daily habits

How climate change threatens one of our favorite daily habits

For many, coffee is a synonym for waking up in the morning. However, the future of our favorite habit is apparently under threat from climate change.

Over the last few years, the effects of climate change have become obvious in many countries in which the coffee plant is cultivated. The dramatic rise in temperature and the ensuing droughts in Ethiopia and Central America, as well as excessive precipitation in Brazil and Colombia, disrupt the cultivation and harvest of coffee. In Ethiopia, it is estimated that by the end of this century 39 to 59 percent of Arabica crops will be lost as a result.

Coffee under threat from climate change!

The coffee plant is vulnerable to fluctuations in weather conditions. It can survive extreme climates but its yield will be greatly affected.

The rise in temperature observed in Ethiopia and Central America gradually reduces the time required between successive crops which is altering the nutritional properties of the yield. Higher than normal temperatures increase the probability of defects, and when the temperature exceeds 33 degrees Celsius, the roots that provide nutrients to the plant start to die out. In areas such as Brazil and Colombia, excessive precipitation is responsible for removing coffee fruit from the branches of the coffee tree prematurely, resulting in a significant reduction in overall coffee production.

Given that global coffee consumption is on the rise, in a few years supply will not be able to satisfy demand. This prediction is causing great worry to millions of consumers across the globe, as well as coffee producers themselves, whose livelihood depends on producing and exporting coffee. Scientists and coffee producers have already embarked on a quest to bring about the necessary adaptations so that the popular coffee plant can survive the effects of climate change.

One way to combat the effects of climate change is to relocate existing coffee plants from areas that have been damaged to other more suitable areas. Another option is the cultivation of hybrid coffee species by combining existing varieties in order to grow crops more resistant to climate change.
By migrating coffee varieties (a practice known as coffee evolution), varieties with desired properties are transplanted to areas with a climate more conducive to cultivation. This is no easy task and requires significant effort and resources.

Coffee producers in countries such as Ethiopia

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Unfortunately, most coffee producers in countries such as Ethiopia, which has been significantly affected by climate change, run small-scale businesses that do not possess the means to relocate their plants. As a result, farmers are greatly dependent on state-run initiatives and private multinational companies that fund research centers. It is now widely understood that crop relocation, combined with the protection of forests and reforestation practices, may significantly increase the areas suitable for the cultivation of coffee.

In the future, it seems that technology can play an important part in securing adequate levels of coffee production. The DNA of Arabica coffee has been decoded since 2014, facilitating the selection of plants that are more capable of withstanding extreme and ever-increasing temperatures. Our aim is to ensure that the coffee in your cup will retain the same high quality while being able to withstand extreme changes in temperature.

From a practical standpoint, it is estimated that the best coffee varieties to result from the practice of coffee transplantation will be commercially available from 2023 onwards. We must, therefore, wait before we are able to evaluate the success of such practices with respect to the environment and to experience their result in the flavor and taste of the coffee.