Similar to the owner of this Smart car, who devised a temporary solution to prevent someone from falling out due to the missing side door panel, coffee farmers around the world are actively seeking ways to combat the dangers posed by climate change. The threat is real, and while current solutions may not ultimately save the crop from extinction, farmers and their communities are engaged in developing, experimenting with, and refining their approaches.
The climate change crisis is significantly impacting coffee farming practices. Increasingly frequent and intense droughts, along with rising temperatures, are forcing farmers to make changes at the farm level to cope with these conditions. For example, shade trees are being planted among the coffee trees, more targeted fertilizers are being used, and alternative species that are more disease-resistant and better able to withstand drought and higher temperatures are being adopted. These strategies can stave off the eradication of this vital crop. However, several studies predict that many areas currently used for coffee cultivation may become unsuitable as early as 2050, compelling farmers to either shift to alternative crops or seek land at higher elevations.
While there is no definitive solution to the quandary presented by climate change, a group of resilient, inquisitive, and innovative individuals are collaborating to find answers.
Human ingenuity coming to the fore
