Student Article
Is Coffee in Danger of Disappearing?
Extinction (noun): The end of an entire species or group of organisms when there are no more living members left.
Deforestation (noun): The clearing of trees and forests.
Commercial (adjective): Made for selling or business purposes.
Imagine a world without coffee! It might sound impossible, but wild coffee plants are in serious danger. According to scientists at Kew Gardens, 60% of the 124 wild coffee species are at risk of extinction. The main causes are climate change, deforestation, pests, and plant diseases.
Where coffee comes from
Commercial coffee — the kind people drink every day — mostly comes from just two species: arabica and robusta. These two types are grown all over the world. But even though they’re popular, they’re also fragile.
Why wild coffee plants matter
That’s why scientists and farmers rely on wild coffee plants. The wild species have special traits that can help make new plants that are stronger and better able to fight off disease and survive in changing climates. If we lose these species, we lose a powerful tool for protecting coffee farms. It’s a bit like losing all your backup plans.
Why it’s so hard to save them
Storing wild coffee seeds isn’t easy. Most can’t survive the freezing process used in seed banks. That means scientists need special techniques to save their DNA and keep coffee alive for the future.
Protecting everyone's morning brew
If the wild varieties vanish, coffee growers may not be able to fight off the next big disease — like the potato blight that caused disaster in Ireland in the 1800s. If the wild varieties vanish, coffee growers may not be able to fight off the next big disease — like the potato blight that caused disaster in Ireland in the 1800s.
© Luis Villazon / Our Media
Extinction (noun): The end of an entire species or group of organisms when there are no more living members left.
Deforestation (noun): The clearing of trees and forests.
Commercial (adjective): Made for selling or business purposes.