Global warming threatens coffee extinction by 2080, impacting 120 million livelihoods

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If global warming continues, wild coffee beans could become extinct due to insect pests or extreme weather in 2080, hitting 120 million people who depend on the production of coffee beans, according to a new study released by the Australian Climate Research Institute.

According to Hong Kong's Ming Pao, citing foreign media reports, the research report points out that due to rising temperatures, major coffee producing areas are increasingly affected by extreme weather, coupled with the spread of pests and fungi such as coffee bark beetles due to a relatively humid and warm climate, causing great damage to coffee trees and a reduction in coffee bean production. Among them, in 2012, abnormal high temperatures and rainfall in Central America led to the loss of local coffee beans, resulting in the unemployment of 350000 local people. In the African country of Tanzania, coffee production has decreased by 50% since the 1960s. For every 1 ℃ increase in average temperature, coffee bean production per hectare of farmland has been reduced by 137kg.

The report estimates that by 2050, the world's agricultural land suitable for growing coffee trees will be halved, and by 2080, wild coffee trees will disappear from the earth, depriving coffee of important genetic diversity that may be used to combat warming pressures. As for artificially cultivated coffee, its flavor and price may also be seriously affected by high temperatures. "if the global average temperature rises by 3 degrees Celsius or more, even instant coffee may be greatly affected." The report predicts that in the coming decades, the main production areas of coffee may move from the equator to the mountains, which may lead to environmental problems such as deforestation.

At present, 70 countries around the world produce coffee beans, and the coffee industry is the economic backbone of some developing countries. For example, 59% of Burundi's export income comes from coffee beans, while Ethiopia and Nicaragua derive 33% and 17% of their export earnings from coffee beans, respectively.