Climate change might be coming for your favorite cup of coffee, as rising temperatures are affecting production of Arabica, the most popular coffee bean.
Arabica production is expected to decrease 80% by 2050.
"You are talking about like all these issues that we're going to have with rainfall, that is going to be not a well distributed anymore. We have problems of course, with the temperature," said Felipe Ferrão, a University of Florida researcher.
Arabica plants typically grow in cooler weather in the mountains, but base temperatures are rising. So, scientists at UF are focusing on two solutions: adapting farming practices to new environments and developing resilient species.
Ferrão and his colleagues published a study showing that the Robusta coffee bean is highly adaptable as it grows in warmer conditions and. It's easy to grow and has good flavor.
It can also adapt to altitudes.
"Robusta coffee when we compare to Arabica, we have a huge diversity. So, it means that we can find plants we can find like what is called genotypes, that they are more adapted to different conditions," Ferrão said.
The researchers have about 1,000 coffee plants in the ground right now across Florida that they're testing, and Ferrão expects to harvest in September.
