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Whether the latest study says coffee is good for you or bad for you, for many of us, coffee remains an essential. Yes, having 5 cups a day is probably not healthy, but that 1 cup before work is basically a lifeline for the majority of us. Well, leave it to global warming to take our one, caffeinated solace from us.
Apparently, if temperatures continue to rise as anticipated, 80% of the land in Central America and Brazil currently used to grow Arabica coffee will no longer be suitable for growing the bean by 2050. Additionally, 50% of the land used for growing coffee globally will no longer be useful by 2050 as well.
This would likely cause a significant decrease in the supply of coffee available, which in turn would cause prices to increase substantially. The effect would also be devastating for communities worldwide that depend on coffee harvests for survival. Coffee buyers like Starbucks would be required to find new suppliers and develop new transportation and distribution routes. In other words, the changing climate will likely be very costly for coffee growers, buyers, and consumers alike.
“Your supply of coffee as you know it is definitely at risk,” said Bambi Sembroc, who deals primarily with coffee and climate change in his work for Center for Environmental Leadership in Business at Conservation International.
The costly consequences of climate change have motivated the world’s largest coffee seller, Starbucks, to make changes. The company is working with farmers to test, develop, and implement practices that allow for growing coffee in a warmer climate. The company has also made efforts to reduce its own environmental impact and CO2 emissions.
Although Starbucks has only experienced moderate success with its efforts, other coffee buyers may be tempted to follow suit. Any preparation is better than no preparation when it comes to the effect of climate change on sensitive crops.
No matter what action is taken, the coffee market appears almost certain to change drastically in the next 40 years. All I have to say is enjoy your coffee now; who knows what a cup of joe will cost in 2050.
