Kenya's celebrated coffee under threat as farmers hit by climate change

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🗞️ Driving the news: Kenya's renowned coffee industry, a key source of global high-quality coffee, is under threat as climate change disrupts production
• Farmers in Komothai report declining yields due to erratic weather, pests, and diseases, with rising temperatures straining water resources and soil health

🔭 The context: Coffee cultivation, reliant on stable weather conditions, is becoming unsustainable in Kenya, as 93% of coffee farmers already face climate impacts
• Economic inequities exacerbate the crisis, with local workers earning less than the cost of a cup of coffee sold abroad

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The Kenyan coffee crisis mirrors global challenges in agriculture as rising temperatures, droughts, and climate-related pests threaten livelihoods, food security, and export economies in vulnerable regions

⏭️ What's next: Farmers are adopting climate adaptation strategies, like planting shade trees and experimenting with resilient farming practice
• However, addressing systemic economic inequalities and creating climate-resilient policies remain critical for a sustainable coffee industry

💬 One quote: “Right now, as things stand, I don't think any parent wants their child here farming coffee.” — Simon Macharia, Kenyan coffee farmer

📈 One stat: Producing a single cup of coffee requires up to 140 liters of water, a resource increasingly scarce due to climate change

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