With climate change increasing average temperatures, the places where indigenous Arabica coffee can grow are reducing; significantly threatening future coffee production.

The Irish Examiner reports on a study by the UK’s Royal Botanical Gardens and the Environment and Coffee Forum of Ethiopia which suggests that by 2080, between 66% and 100% of the suitable areas for growing Arabica will have disappeared.

Arabica, which accounts for 70% of global coffee production, is a climate sensitive species. If wild varieties were to become extinct, there is little genetic diversity to drawn on. Higher temperatures cause the fruits of Arabica to ripen too early and the plant can experience depressed growth and abnormalities.

The findings of the study are particularly worrying for countries such as Ethiopia which depends on coffee for around 33% of its export earnings.

The study warns that producers could turn to more environmentally destructive production practices, such as increasing irrigation levels leading to salinity issues.

But there is hope in the form of certification for environmentally sound production techniques and coffee grown under agroforestry systems.

Read the full story: A storm is brewing for coffee fans