A global push to develop climate-resistant coffee

An international partnership is driving innovative coffee breeding to protect coffee farmers from the impacts of climate change.

Jonathan W. Rosen reports for Grist and Roast Magazine.

In short:

Arabica coffee, the most consumed coffee species, is highly vulnerable to climate change, risking significant drops in production by 2050.
Innovea, led by World Coffee Research, is developing climate-resilient coffee varieties through global collaboration, aiming to help farmers like those in Kenya.
The project combines traditional breeding with genetic technology to create high-yield, disease-resistant coffee plants.

Key quote:

“The idea is to identify the genes we’re looking for and move on with those plants instead of others.”

— Jane Cheserek, lead breeder at Kenya’s government-run Coffee Research Institute

Why this matters:

Innovea is driving a cutting-edge experiment aimed at creating the climate-proof coffee of the future. This isn't just about preserving your daily caffeine fix; it's about safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of farmers worldwide while protecting our environment. Read more: Alexa White on supporting small-scale farmers.

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A global push to develop climate-resistant coffee

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