Poor weather conditions are threatening to make your morning coffee even more expensive.
What happened: Starbucks has developed new varieties of arabica coffee trees tailored to withstand the effects of climate change, the result of a decade-long effort to weather-proof their supply.
- The company buys its arabica coffee from 400,000 farmers from 30 countries, many of which are vulnerable to droughts, storms and other extreme weather.
Why it matters: It's not just the coffee industry looking to protect its crops from the impact of climate change. Farmers around the world are turning to solutions that involve everything from drones to humidity sensors to help keep their crops safe in the face of extreme weather.
- This year, BC and Nova Scotia, announced millions in investments to help their agriculture industries adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.
Big picture: By 2050, rising temperatures are expected to reduce the area where coffee can be grown by up to 50%, driving up prices. Poor weather conditions in growing hubs like Brazil are already starting to impact prices, which are passed on to consumers.—LA