Our familiar cup of coffee seems so ordinary. But over time, it will become increasingly difficult to grow the coffee beans needed to make it. Meanwhile, demand for coffee is rising, particularly for high-quality Arabica. More and more coffee is being consumed here in Europe, as well as in Asia. Prices will therefore rise too.
Already happening
Coffee farmers are already feeling the effects of climate change. Arabica plants in particular—the source of the finest coffee—are struggling with changing conditions. As a result, the supply of good coffee is under pressure.
A recent Nieuwsuur report explained the impact of climate change on coffee farmers. For example, farmers who used to bring in the harvest with dozens of people are now doing the work alone because of lower yields.
Watch here the Nieuwsuur article.
New coffee
Coffee farming is already changing. For example, farmers are planting more and more coffee shrubs in the shade of trees, creating a kind of food forest.
This increases diversity on the plantation, strengthening nature and soil life, which in turn helps the coffee shrubs thrive. It also provides farmers with additional income, for example by growing avocados. (But avocados, mangoes and guavas are also affected by climate change.)
Wageningen University, among others, is already looking for new coffee varieties. Of all the varieties of the coffea plant, only Arabica and Robusta are currently used to produce coffee. But there are other varieties, although they don't make coffee as tasty as the kind we're used to. Further research and plant breeding may lead to a new coffee variety.
We hope, for your sake and for the sake of coffee farmers, that good coffee will continue to have a future.
* Photo by Tyler Lastovich from Burst
