All this recent research has revealed that Liberica coffee contains three species! This breakthrough provides an exciting new solution for the farmers who are at the front lines of dealing with climate change. Coffea liberica, Coffea dewevrei (known as excelsa in the coffee trade), and Coffea klainei all exhibit distinct genetic features. Adaptively they show amazing responses to varying climate patterns. This discovery comes at a critical time, as the vast majority of coffee production globally relies heavily on just two species: arabica (Coffea arabica) and robusta (Coffea canephora).
Farmers in Uganda, South Sudan, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and across the Pacific are standing up. They have begun growing Liberica coffee on their plantations. Despite producing less than 1% of global coffee production, this climate adaptive crop holds tremendous power for climate resiliency. It might be the key to creating a sustainable future for coffee farmers.
The Three Distinct Species
Liberica coffee consists of three primary species: C. liberica, C. dewevrei, and C. klainei. Each species has specific characteristics that might turn out to be the best fit to withstand different environmental stresses.
Among them, C. liberica is known for its completely distinct flavor profile. It has a wide tolerance for precipitation seasonality but is found at lower elevations where it can experience prolonged dry seasons. This rapid adaptability has made it a unique candidate for cultivation in regions impacted by shifting climatic patterns.
C. dewevrei (excelsa) is known to have a wide natural distribution spanning the length of tropical Central Africa. Researchers have determined excelsa to be the more drought-tolerant and better adapted to drier climates than C. liberica. This resilience opens new avenues for farmers living with droughts to expand the variety of crops they grow.
Finally, while C. klainei is the least studied of the three, it contributes to diversifying Liberica coffee’s genetic pool. More research is needed to get a complete picture of its potential benefits and necessary adaptations.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation
The recent genetic study into Liberica coffee further shows its potential to offer climate-resilient alternatives to traditional coffee production. With climate change increasingly influencing how we grow food, the need for more resilient crops that can adapt to different environments is greater than ever before.
“Importantly, Liberica and excelsa hold substantial potential for developing coffee farming in areas that are unsuitable for arabica or robusta, particularly those at low elevations in hotter and wetter climates.” – A. P. Davis et al
These results indicate that both C. liberica and C. dewevrei have evolved important adaptations. These alterations may be a blessing as climate patterns evolve. They protect our communities from extreme weather’s impacts. As such, they’re a powerful option for farmers looking to future-proof their coffee production against climate change.
According to the researchers, field trials will be needed to prove these species’ climate adaptation traits. Further investigation into their resiliency will be important in determining their long-term success in varied agricultural systems.
Ongoing Challenges in Taxonomy
Even with exciting developments around Liberica coffee, challenges continue both in its agricultural popularization and especially in its taxonomic classification. Researchers and stakeholders across the coffee value chain continue to find it difficult to distinguish C. liberica. This misunderstanding stems from the conflicting application of scientific and common names across research literature and popular media.
“The taxonomic delimitation and identification of C. liberica continues to confound researchers and coffee value-chain stakeholders, with inconsistent and confusing use of scientific and vernacular names in published research, agriculture and the media.” – A. P. Davis et al
This constant uncertainty creates barriers for producers who want to incorporate these species into their production systems. Getting a clear picture of the taxonomy is extremely important for ongoing scientific research. It will further protect farmers looking to responsibly diversify their fields.
With the growing interest in more sustainable coffee supply chain, proper identification and classification is more important than ever. This has implications from the field to fork—from cultivation practices to consumer education.