Climate change is already shrinking the global production areas for coffee, wine, and cacao, and a proposed high-tech “fix” for the planet will not reliably save them, a new study has found. Research from Colorado State University reveals that even radical climate interventions, such as stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), would fail to preserve suitable growing conditions for these economically and culturally vital crops.
Based on temperature alone, the outlook is stark. The suitable growing area for grapes is projected to decrease by seven per cent by 2035-2044 and 11 per cent by 2085-2094. Coffee is projected to lose 29% of its growing area by 2035-2044 and a staggering 52 per cent by 2085-2094, with much of this loss concentrated in Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer. Cacao is the only outlier, with its suitable growing area projected to increase by thee-to-five per cent by the end of the century.
Based on temperature alone, the outlook is stark. The suitable growing area for grapes is projected to decrease by seven per cent by 2035-2044 and 11 per cent by 2085-2094. Coffee is projected to lose 29% of its growing area by 2035-2044 and a staggering 52 per cent by 2085-2094, with much of this loss concentrated in Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer. Cacao is the only outlier, with its suitable growing area projected to increase by thee-to-five per cent by the end of the century.