The Intersection of Environmental Impact, Adaptation, and Sustainability
Climate Change and Coffee Production
Climate Sensitivity of Coffee
Coffee is highly sensitive to climate change, which poses significant risks to global production. Climate change impacts include alterations in temperature and rainfall patterns, which can lead to reduced yields, increased pests and diseases, and loss of suitable coffee-growing areas. The sensitivity of coffee to climate change indeed poses a significant challenge to its global production. The alterations in temperature and rainfall patterns brought about by climate change are not mere inconveniences but fundamental shifts that directly impact the viability of coffee cultivation. Reduced yields are a direct consequence of these altered climatic conditions, as both Arabica and Robusta coffee beans require specific temperature ranges and consistent rainfall patterns to flourish.
Increased pests and diseases are a byproduct of these changing climates. Warmer temperatures can expand the range of many pests and diseases that affect coffee plants, such as the coffee berry borer and coffee leaf rust, both of which can devastate coffee crops. The coffee leaf rust, for instance, thrives in warmer and wetter conditions, which are becoming more common due to climate change. (Pham et al., 2019).
Adaptation Strategies
The study suggests future priorities for coffee production in light of climate change should focus on adaptation strategies. These could include relocating coffee plantations to more climatically suitable areas, adopting irrigation practices to cope with drought, and implementing agroforestry systems to enhance resilience against climate variability.
Carbon Footprint and Environmental Impact
Environmental Impact of Tea Production
The study on Taiwanese Dongshan tea provides a comprehensive analysis of the carbon footprint and environmental impacts associated with tea production. Key findings indicate that fertilizer use, electricity consumption during manufacturing, and consumer practices (like boiling water) are significant contributors to the environmental footprint of tea also the transportation of tea from production sites to markets globally further exacerbates its environmental footprint, highlighting the importance of considering the entire supply chain when evaluating the sustainability of tea production. (Hu et al., 2019)
Recommendations for Reduction
To reduce the environmental impacts, the study recommends the adoption of organic fertilizers, the promotion of energy-efficient appliances by consumers for boiling water, and the engagement of farmers in sustainable agricultural practices.
Fair Trade Practices
Benefits of Fair Trade Certification
Fair Trade certification aims to provide coffee producers with a safety net against market volatility and improve their economic conditions. The study from Costa Rica demonstrates that Fair Trade certification can lead to higher sales prices, greater sales volumes, and more revenues for coffee mills. For coffee farm owners, certification is associated with higher incomes, partly due to income transfer from intermediaries to producers. However, the benefits for unskilled workers, who represent a more disadvantaged group, are not as clear.
This disparity underscores the need for Fair Trade programs to also focus on equitable distribution of benefits among all workers, including unskilled laborers, to ensure that the economic advantages of certification are more uniformly distributed across the coffee production chain. (Dragusanu & Nunn, 2018).
Environmental Risks of Discarded Coffee Waste
Mutagenic and Ecotoxic Effects
The environmental and health risks associated with discarded coffee waste are significant, with studies showing mutagenic, genotoxic, cytotoxic, and ecotoxic effects. These findings underline the importance of developing and implementing strategies for the proper disposal and treatment of coffee waste to minimize its impact on the environment and public health.
Moreover, innovative recycling and repurposing of coffee waste into valuable products, such as biofuels, garden compost, or even in the production of cosmetics and textiles, can not only mitigate these environmental and health risks but also contribute to a more sustainable and circular economy. (Korekar et al., 2019).
These studies highlight the complex interplay between climate change, agricultural practices, economic models (such as Fair Trade), and environmental sustainability in the context of global caffeine production. Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts from governments, industry, communities, and consumers to promote sustainable and ethical practices throughout the coffee and tea production and supply chains.
References:
Li, S., He, B., Wang, J., Liu, J., & Hu, X. (2019). Risks of caffeine residues in the environment: Necessity for a targeted ecopharmacovigilance program.. Chemosphere, 243, 125343 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125343.
Dragusanu, R., & Nunn, N. (2018). The Effects of Fair Trade Certification: Evidence From Coffee Producers in Costa Rica. Journal of the European Economic Association. https://doi.org/10.3386/W24260.
Hu, A., Chen, C., Huang, L., Chung, M., Lan, Y., & Chen, Z. (2019). Environmental Impact and Carbon Footprint Assessment of Taiwanese Agricultural Products: A Case Study on Taiwanese Dongshan Tea. Energies. https://doi.org/10.3390/EN12010138.
