Climate change leaves a bitter taste in world’s coffee supply

CANBERRA: Every morning, millions of people around the world find solace in a cup of coffee. But this cherished daily routine is under siege as climate change drives up costs and diminishes the flavour of coffee – and Asia’s major coffee producers find themselves on the frontlines. Southeast Asia, in particular, is a powerhouse in the global coffee market, with Vietnam and Indonesia being the world’s second and fourth biggest coffee producers respectively. In 2023, Vietnam produced 29.1 million 60kg bags of coffee while Indonesia contributed 11.85 million. Other countries in the region such as Thailand, Laos and the Philippines are also increasing their output. But rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and prolonged droughts are taking a toll on coffee crops. Coffee plants are highly sensitive to climatic changes and the increasing heat can impair their growth, reduce yields and lower the quality of the beans. Pests like the coffee berry borer, which thrive in warmer conditions, ...