Coffee Production at Risk Due to Climate Change
If you’re someone who can’t start your day without a cup of coffee, you might want to make some changes to your routine as coffee prices are on the rise due to climate change.
According to a new study, the global production of coffee is at risk of shrinking by 50 percent due to crop failures in multiple countries caused by extreme weather events and the changing climate in coffee-producing regions.
The study, published in the journal PLOS Climate, assessed 12 climate hazards and found that they increased significantly between 1980 and 2020, with the nature of the hazards shifting from overly cool to overly warm conditions.
The optimal temperature for growing coffee is between 18 to 22 degrees Celsius for arabica and 22 to 28 degrees Celsius for robusta. Coffee is considered a sensitive crop and is vulnerable to climate variability and change.
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The changes in coffee production and crop failures could have a significant impact on tens of millions of farmers in developing countries who rely on coffee production for their livelihoods.
The study’s authors warned that climate change is expected to continue to alter the global distribution of coffee suitability, and the area of land suitable for coffee cultivation may be reduced by up to 50 percent.
“With climate change projections showing a continued rise in temperatures in the tropics is likely, we suggest that coffee production can expect ongoing systemic shocks in response to climate hazards,” the researchers concluded.
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As coffee prices continue to rise, it’s clear that action needs to be taken to mitigate the effects of climate change on coffee production and support farmers who rely on this valuable crop.