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Last Friday, I had an interesting conversation with Dr. Anja Rah (aka Dr. Cofe'), the author of "Green Coffee Economics: Unraveling the Paradox." Her paper examines the complexities surrounding the utilization of coffee-producing nations' genetic resources for economic advancement. It highlights a paradox where countries rich in biodiversity often lack the means to develop these resources into intellectual property (IP) that could stimulate their economies. Conversely, nations with the capability to create valuable IP may not possess the necessary genetic materials. The Nagoya Protocol governs access to these resources, requiring benefit-sharing agreements that can be intricate and deter research. The article suggests that fostering collaboration between resource-rich and technologically advanced countries could help resolve this paradox, promoting conservation and equitable economic development. Part of the solution would be establishing a funding source for global coffee research that benefits coffee genetic origin countries, coffee-producing countries, and coffee-consuming countries.

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Please listen to a podcast that discusses this issue -- Coffee Sustainability.

 

Main Themes:

• Climate change is severely impacting coffee production, leading to price volatility and threatening the livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers.

• Adaptation to climate change is crucial for the long-term sustainability of the coffee industry. This requires significant investment and collaboration between producing and consuming countries.

• Current economic models and power imbalances in the coffee supply chain hinder equitable benefit sharing and innovation in producing countries.

Key Facts and Ideas:

Impact of Climate Change:

• Unstable weather patterns, including heatwaves, droughts, and excessive rainfall, are disrupting coffee production, particularly in Brazil and Vietnam.

• "Climate change is causing the exact opposite of regular climate conditions, alternating El Nino and La Nina. Under El Nino, there are heat waves with increasing temperatures and extreme drought, while La Nina causes excessive rain and cold weather." (Andrea Illy)

• These weather extremes have led to record high coffee prices, with Arabica futures up 70% and Robusta prices up 100%. (Andrea Illy)

• "The vast majority of 12 and a half million growers farming 12 million hectares of coffee globally are too small (less than 1 hectare) to invest in adaptation – especially since they are receiving less than 5% of the value of [a cup of] coffee?" (Andrea Illy)

Adaptation Strategies:

• Renewal of coffee plantations, direct sourcing, improved traceability, and public-private partnerships are crucial for supporting small-scale producers. (Andrea Illy)

• "Coffee-consuming countries need to work with small-scale coffee producers, most of whom have less than 5 hectares of production, to help them adapt to climate change and earn a 'living wage'." (Andrea Illy)

• A living wage for coffee workers in Latin America is estimated between $5,000 and $8,000 annually, requiring innovative marketing approaches. (Global Living Wage Coalition)

Economic Challenges and Opportunities:

• Coffee-producing nations, rich in biodiversity, often lack resources to develop intellectual property (IP) from their genetic resources. (Dr. Anja Rah)

• Advanced consuming countries have the capacity for IP development but require access to these genetic resources. (Dr. Anja Rah)

• The Nagoya Protocol, while promoting benefit sharing, can create complex barriers to research and collaboration. (Dr. Anja Rah)

Proposed Solutions:

• Fostering collaboration and knowledge transfer between advanced and producing countries to develop and commercialize coffee-related innovations. (Dr. Anja Rah)

• Creating equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms, standardized agreements, and shared-value frameworks. (Dr. Anja Rah)

• Investing in infrastructure and capacity building in producing countries through public-private partnerships and joint research initiatives. (Dr. Anja Rah)

• Implementing a 1% conservation tariff on green coffee exports to fund sustainability projects in producing countries. (Dr. Kôfē)

• This tariff could generate over $221 million annually, equivalent to a 0.06 cent increase per cup of coffee. (Dr. Kôfē)

• "Introducing conservation tariffs would also ensure that as long as coffee is traded there will be funding, securing the economic future of green coffee research." (Dr. Kôfē)

Quotes:

• "Coffee farmers have to adapt." (Andrea Illy)

• "There is insufficient cash flow and margins to reinvest part of your income in adaptation. Price volatility makes it even more difficult." (Andrea Illy)

• "How can we unravel the paradox and liberate access to genetic resources for the purposes of conservation and research?" (Dr. Kôfē)

• "Perhaps modification during the initial interfacing - purchasing of green coffee - would be more efficient?" (Dr. Kôfē)

Overall, the sources paint a picture of a coffee industry facing existential threats from climate change and economic inequality. The need for collaborative and innovative solutions that empower coffee producers and ensure the long-term sustainability of this vital commodity is paramount.