Study Reveals Liberica Coffee Consists of Three Distinct Species with Climate-Resilient Options

The global coffee supply relies on just two species, Arabica (Coffea arabica) and Robusta (C. canephora). Climate change, rising temperatures, and unpredictable weather patterns are making it increasingly difficult for farmers to grow these coffee plants, posing a significant threat to the industry.

As climate change threatens the two main coffee species, Arabica and Robusta, researchers are looking for alternatives. A new genetic study on Liberica coffee (C. liberica) published in Nature Plants has revealed it is not one but three distinct species, each with unique traits that could make them more resilient to warm temperatures, drought, and erratic weather. While Liberica is already grown in countries like Uganda, South Sudan, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Pacific, accounting for less than 1% of global production.

The new study reveals that the three species—C. liberica, C. dewevrei, and the lesser-known C. klainei—have unique climate tolerances. C. dewevrei is more drought-tolerant, while C. liberica is better suited for regions with seasonal rainfall and longer dry seasons. These species, particularly C. liberica and C. dewevrei, have significant potential for cultivation in hotter, wetter climates where Arabica and Robusta struggle. Further research and field trials are needed to confirm these adaptations, but the findings offer promising new avenues for coffee breeding to secure future global coffee supplies.

For more details, read the article in Global Coffee Report or download the open-access paper in Nature Plants.