What does wild coffee farming mean for the coffee industry?
– TASTE THE ORIGIN –
Wild coffee farming is not a novel method that has been around for millennia. Although wild-grown coffees don’t have the high economic value of specialty coffees grown on large plantations, they are still very popular with professionals, large producers and consumers. The researchers suggest that it could improve supply chain resilience, increasing valuable genetic diversity important to the coffee industry. Have you heard of this wild method of coffee farming? Let’s find out with 43 Factory Coffee Roaster!
What is wild coffee farming?
Wild coffee farming is a production method for coffee to grow naturally without human intervention. Farmers will search for wild coffee trees, waiting for them to flower, set seeds, and ripen red. They will not directly affect the maturity of the plant, but only collect when the coffee berries fall automatically or manually when they are fully ripe.
Wild coffee has many different species. In addition to the two most popular species, arabica and robusta, there are more than 100 other species of coffee. You can find coffee growing wild in several countries along the Coffee Belt such as Africa, Madagascar and parts of Asia.
What does wild coffee farming mean for the coffee industry?
According to many experts and large-scale coffee producers, wild coffee farming is important for the sustainability of the entire industry.
Wild coffee farming helps limit the effects of climate change on the coffee industry
The coffee industry is facing major challenges due to climate change. According to a report by experts from Humboldt University (Berlin) and the Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), climate change could reduce the world’s coffee-growing area by 50% by 2050. Coffee growing areas in Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia and Indonesia will no longer be suitable for producing high-quality coffee. Without finding a coffee that can adapt to the current severe environmental conditions, a serious decline in coffee production will affect the sustainability of the coffee industry and the incomes of millions of farmers.
To overcome the above situation, scientists have researched and searched among thousands of cultivars and discovered wild coffee roots possessing special genetic characteristics that allow rapid adaptation to changes in the environment. environmental change. In particular, these naturally grown coffee varieties can survive in harsher places and withstand climate change. Therefore, they have been selected, bred and improved by scientists to create new coffee varieties with high quality, superior climate and pest resistance. For example, racemosa (a coffee variety that grows wild) has been found by experts and is being considered for suitable areas to expand cultivation. If successful, the cultivation of wild racemosa coffee could be a major source of future supply for ameliorating the reductions in production caused by climate change.
Wild coffee increases genetic diversity, sustains the coffee industry’s sustainable future
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, about 60% of coffee species will be at risk of extinction. Among them, there are 13 rare types of coffee that have fallen into an extremely endangered state. If this situation persists without timely measures, maybe by 2080, coffee will no longer exist on Earth.
So experts have bred wild coffee varieties with other coffees to enhance the genetic diversity of the coffee. Wild coffees are not only the source of commercial species such as arabica and robusta, but also a valuable genetic resource in the creation of new coffee varieties. This helps to increase biodiversity while increasing the quality of coffee varieties, thereby contributing to maintaining the sustainable future of the coffee industry.
As can be seen, wild coffee farming has benefits in many respects. They help farmers and producers save effort and cost of fertilization. They also prevent the risk of reducing coffee production due to climate change, are a source of increased genetic diversity that protects the future of the coffee industry. Are you curious about the taste of this coffee? Try wild Gesha beans harvested in the Ethiopian jungle from Gesha Village’s Chaka coffee batch. The aromas that are nourished completely naturally from the origin of this “coffee world” will definitely not disappoint you.
Don’t forget to follow the next articles of 43 Factory Coffee Roaster to discover more new things about coffee!
Source: perfectdailygrind
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