Climate change threatens the future of coffee
By 2050, 50 percent of the areas used for coffee cultivation could disappear. The two largest coffee producers, Brazil and Vietnam, would be particularly affected.
Monday, November 15, 2021
Will we soon have to give up our daily morning coffee? It is uncertain whether it will turn out that bad. In any case, a study from 2014 indicates that close to 50 percent of the acreage that is suitable for growing the two varieties Arabica and Robusta could disappear by 2050. The price of coffee is also expected to increase. The reason for this is climate change. Although coffee production could move further north in the future, this would have bitter consequences for existing coffee farmers. An estimated 100 million people are involved in coffee production worldwide. Many millions also work in processing and trade. Already today, the working conditions are in some cases precarious. There is a risk that the situation could worsen further.
Global breeding network
Due to climate change, the growing conditions for crops are changing, in some cases drastically. Therefore, new varieties must be bred with properties that, for example, can still be exposed to greater heat and water scarcity. The organization “World Coffee Research” is launching a global breeding network next year with the aim of promoting modern plant breeding technologies in producer countries. Research is also carried out into which newly bred varieties grow best in which environment.
New varieties thanks to genome editing
With genome editing, decaffeinated coffee, which is often unsatisfactory in taste, could be made tastier. In a gfs survey that asked about Swiss consumers’ acceptance of genome editing for various purposes, this probably failed as a “pure lifestyle purpose”. However, applications that make plants more resistant to climate change were very clearly supported by 76 percent.
Related articles
Biotechnology as a Tool for Nature Conservation
New genomic technologies can help save endangered species – from the chestnut tree to the northern white rhino.
The Poison and the Dose
The debate about threshold values for chemical residues in water and food is often shaped by misunderstandings and emotions. Few topics show as clearly how far perception and science can drift apart. But what do limit values really mean? In autumn 2025, the Agricultural Policy Podcast and swiss-food.ch will explore our relationship with limits and risk in a five-part series. The highlight will be a live podcast recording on November 5 at Bogen F in Zurich.
‘No genetic engineering’ is simply not an option!
For years, politicians and environmental organisations have been stirring up unnecessary fears about a technology that has been helping to conserve resources and protect the environment for decades, while improving the quality and tolerability of food and cosmetics. It is time to put an end to this consumer deception.
«The protection of cultures is no longer guaranteed»
Swiss agriculture is in a tight spot when it comes to crop protection. At the Swiss-Food Talk on July 1, 2025, three producer representatives described how bans, the lack of alternatives, and lengthy approval procedures are putting pressure on their crops.