Climate Change Affecting Coffee

Coffee Industry to be Impacted by Climate Change

Global Warming Hurts Coffee

The coffee industry will be significantly affected by Global Warming.

This includes drought, which affects all kinds of farming; more persistent pests; and changes in land use.  

This will result in lower crop yields, higher prices, and more pressure on the small farmers.  Prices will rise to compensate, so consumers will pay more for a cup of coffee.

The affects have started already but are expected to become very noticeable by 2020.  And there is not a lot that farmers can do about it.

In addition, world-wide demand for coffee is expected to rise, so farmers will be trying to grow even more crops.  This puts pressure on the Shade Grown method of farming; because the full-sun, open-field style of farming can produce more beans per acre - but it involves less sustainable practices.

Coffee is one of the leading agricultural products - so the effects of Climate Change on coffee can indicate what is happening in general to agriculture.  Some coffee-producing countries are more at risk for Climate Change affects than others; these include Brasil, Vietnam, Honduras, Ethiopia, and Uganda.

These changes to the coffee industry run the risk of raising the poverty level.   Almost 3/4 of the worlds coffee is produced by the small, family farms.  The coffee farmer will need education and improved agricultural practices to deal with the affects of Climate Change and the greater weather variability.

You can help by buying more Fair Trade coffees, which more directly compensates the small farmer.

Also, you can learn more about Climate Change at ManMadeClimateChange.com
  

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