- Colombia coffee production has shrunk by 35 per cent in the last five years
Coffee drinkers could face a reduced supply of their favourite beverage and higher costs as climate change and disease is hitting supply.
At the same time, environmental campaigners are calling for restrictions on coffee grown in countries where rainforests are illegally cut down.
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay announced new legislation in December which will ban businesses from selling goods containing certain commodities sourced from land used illegally.
But the rules did not include coffee – and campaigners have called for the beverage to be included.
Coffee drinkers could face a reduced supply of their favourite beverage and higher costs as climate change and disease is hitting supply (Stock Photo)
Coffee farmers in the South American country’s Sierra Nevada mountain range (pictured) say warming temperatures are forcing them to plant their crops on higher ground, while increasingly unpredictable rainfall cycles are affecting growth and harvesting logistics
Such a change would follow the EU where new rules will mean seven such products, including coffee, can no longer be sold in the bloc from December 30 this year while the US is also developing similar legislation.
Meanwhile, climate change is putting coffee production ‘in danger’, according to farmers in Colombia, which is a major exporter to the UK.
Coffee farmers in the South American country’s Sierra Nevada mountain range say warming temperatures are forcing them to plant their crops on higher ground, while increasingly unpredictable rainfall cycles are affecting growth and harvesting logistics.
The region used to be free of coffee plant diseases but farmers say climate change means their plants are increasingly vulnerable to rust, brown eye spot or borer insects, further hitting their yields.
Production in the area has shrunk by 35 per cent in the last five years, according to the Latin American and Caribbean Fairtrade Network (CLAC).
A government spokesman said: ‘The UK is leading the way globally with new legislation to tackle illegal deforestation to make sure we rid UK supply chains of products contributing to the destruction of these vital habitats.
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay (pictured) announced new legislation in December which will ban businesses from selling goods containing certain commodities sourced from land used illegally
‘This legislation has already been introduced through the Environment Act and is just one of many measures to halt and reverse global forest loss.
‘We are also investing in significant international programmes to restore forests, which have avoided over 410,000 hectares of deforestation to date alongside supporting new green finance streams.’
The Government has said, however, it is reviewing Government Buying Standards for coffee – as well as palm oil, cocoa and soy should be ‘legal and sustainable’.
Stephen BarclayClimate Change & Global Warming
