The move by Starbucks to sell ‘single origin’ coffee sourced from Timor Leste in supermarkets is expected to help alleviate deforestation and contribute to growing the country’s economy.

An article in Forbes outlines how Starbucks is set to sell coffee from Mount Rameleau (known locally as Tata Mailau or ‘grandfather of all’) in Timor Leste, an island nation straddling the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

This signifies a “potentially huge boost for the economy, tourism and global market awareness,” says the article. Sustainably sourcing and expanding the coffee industry may also help to alleviate rapid deforestation which has been occurring recently on the island.

The Natural Resources Defense Council says, “Agroforestry systems, including those involving coffee, have potential to enhance the economic and ecological stability” of a country.

Coffee is the main cash crop in Timor-Leste and an estimated 46 per cent of East Timorese households rely solely on coffee for their income. The industry however is hampered by a lack of infrastructure, outdated mills and other technical issues. Investments, such as that by Starbucks, could help to greatly increase margins for farmers and returns on labor. It will also provide a major boost to the reputation of the product and open a large potential market.

Read the full story: East Timor, Home To 'Grandpa Of All Coffee,' Stands To Gain Big From Starbucks