Warning that coffee could disappear from shelves by 2050 due to climate change  (2024)

FAQs

Warning that coffee could disappear from shelves by 2050 due to climate change ? ›

Climate Change

An earlier report by the Climate Institute found that coffee production could be cut in half by 2050 due to climate change. Warming temperatures have started to introduce several new threats to the production of coffee, ranging from unsuitable growing temperatures to new warmer weather pests.

Climate Change and Coffee Production

Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall are altering the conditions under which coffee plants are grown, leading to decreased yields and increased vulnerability coffee crops face, such as pests and diseases.

A Shift in Coffee Growing Regions

Some 50 percent of current coffee-growing land will likely be unsuitable for arabica by 2050. Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Indonesia, four of the biggest coffee nations, are on that list. Growers there are looking for ways to delay the tipping point.

The fruit of the coffee plant is coveted all over the world.

However, this also means that the changing conditions in the plants' original cultivation areas are no longer favorable for their growth. One example of this is the coffee plant, which is particularly affected by climate change.

In fact, unopened bags of coffee beans can stay fresh for up to a year from the roast date. Once you open a bag of coffee beans, it's best to consume them within three weeks. After three weeks, the flavor of the coffee may start to deteriorate, and you may notice a loss in aroma and taste.

As climate change worsens, the threats against coffee plants are rising, meaning one day many species of coffee could be extinct in the wild. Drought, floods, heatwaves and the spread of pathogens like fungus and viruses are already making it more difficult for coffee to grow in some regions.

Greenhouse gas emissions per 1,000 kcal

In terms of GHG emissions per 1,000 kilocalories, coffee tops the list at 50.95kg of CO2e, followed by beef from beef herd cows (36.44kg), prawns (26.09kg), lamb and mutton (12.53kg), and beef from dairy cows (12.2kg).

Additionally, unpredictable weather conditions can damage and delayed harvests. Although, coffee production is also related to various environmental problems: water pollution, deforestation, soil degradation, and decreased biodiversity, among others.

The world loves coffee. We drink two billion cups each day! But it's very vulnerable to climate change, and millions of coffee farmers are struggling. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall and diseases are threatening our favourite caffeinated drink and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

Why is coffee disappearing? ›

Coffee bean farmers are already experiencing serious challenges and it is estimated that by 2050, up to half of the world's land currently used to farm coffee may be unusable due to floods, droughts and increased temperatures.

Global Coffee Industry Projections: Growth and Opportunities

According to market projections, the global coffee market size value is projected to reach $102.15 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2020 to 2025.

Studies predict that suitable land for coffee production could be cut in half by 2050. This decline will likely lead to reduced yields and increased prices for consumers. The Ripple Effect: The impact goes beyond just our morning routine.

Coffee production is fragile, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports indicate that climate change (CC) will reduce worldwide yields on average and decrease coffee-suitable land by 2050.

Nepal, India and Pakistan are the world's biggest coffee abstainers.

Climate-wise, most of the United States doesn't offer favorable growing conditions for coffee (for Arabica plants, these factors include mild temperatures with high humidity, rich soil, rainy and dry seasons, and altitude—the plants usually prefer a more mountainous terrain.)

Researchers attribute this to advertising as well as product innovations – instant coffee came on to the market in 1938 and was issued to US soldiers during the second world war. Since then, coffee consumption has slowed, a fact that government economists attribute partially to the popularity of other beverages.

The conversion of coffee production to sun-grown coffee is a major source of deforestation since forest is cleared to make room for coffee plants. According to some estimates, every cup of coffee consumed destroys roughly one square inch of rainforest, making it a leading cause of rainforest destruction.

The USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS), in its biannual report released on December 21, projected that world coffee production in 2023/24 will increase +4.2% y/y to 171.4 million bags, with a +10.7% increase in arabica production to 97.3 million bags, and a -3.3% decline in robusta production to 74.1 million bags ...