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Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Climate change may affect coffee lovers

Recent study, published in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Journal, predicts severe negative climate change impacts on Arabica coffee production in Africa. The results of  another research, based on global circulation models, suggest  decreased areas suitable for Arabica coffee in America and Asia. 
By 2050, yields of Arabica bean – which accounts for 75 percent of the coffee produced worldwide – in some countries are expected to fall by up to 25 percent, what could send prices soaring over the next few decades.
Steadily increasing night-time temperatures have the greatest impact. Temperature bracket ranging between 18 to 21°C is most comfortable for the crop. Outside of this temperature bracket the plant’s metabolic processes begin to change, what subsequently has a negative impact on yield and quality. 1°C rise in minimum temperature will result in annual yield drop by up to 60%.
Yields are already 50% lower  in Tanzania, for example, than they were in 1960. Without substantial adaptation strategies, coffee production can drop to critical levels in the country, where coffee is  most important export crop and industry directly supports an estimated 2.4 million individuals.