Climate change is affecting pollinators and it is necessary to expand friendly agricultural practices in coffee plantations. Article conceived in Central America, reveals the theme and is notable among the most cited scientific publications worldwide.
One of the most obvious effects of climate change is the increase in temperature and obviously, this will influence coffee cultivation. A study published by the Climate Institute had previously stated that the suitability of coffee will be reduced by up to 50% and therefore higher heights will be required for the crop even in areas where there are currently no coffee plantations. The mountainous areas of Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and Costa Rica will be the best, also high areas of Nicaragua, Honduras, and Venezuela will no longer have the same yield.
These effects can be mitigated if producers are concerned about protecting forests, and especially their main pollinators: bees. These insects are strategic allies of the coffee plantations, thanks to them the plants improve their productivity, establish the fruit, and define the weight of the bean.
In the projection published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, it is revealed that although the suitability of coffee will be reduced by more than a third, the areas will potentially house at least five species of bees minimum, and most of them up to 10 species, which indicates continuous pollination services.
“It can be expected that the diversity of bees counteracts farmers’ losses … Our results highlight the need for receptive management strategies adapted to the pollination of bees, the suitability of coffee, and the potential coupled effects,” the study cites.
More friendly agricultural practices with bees then become more urgent: it is necessary to perform tissue management, reduce the use of biocides, and increase the diversity of plants on the margins of plots, on roads, and in living barriers. In addition, more effort is needed in adjusting foliage shade, greater efficiency in water use, and irrigation, use of drought-resistant varieties, and soil conservation. The preservation of forests close to coffee plantations is essential to maintain a high variety of pollinating bees, mainly native.
- The study entitled “Coupling of Pollination Services and the Suitability of coffee under climate change was produced in the Unit of Eco-systemic and Hydrologic Modeling of CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Center for Research and Teaching) of Costa Rica and its stored data repository of the CIAT (International Center of Tropical Agriculture).
- It was carried out with 39 species of pollinating bees, which according to the study are resistant to climate change because they adapt to high temperatures.
- The simulations are carried out with Arabica coffee species, mostly available in Latin America.
- By 2050 it is expected that the suitability of coffee, that is, the areas suitable for cultivation, will have a decrease of 73-88% in Latin America, one of the most serious data reported as of 2017.
- In at least 22% of the areas, the growth of more suitable areas for coffee and the growth of pollinating bee species are projected, mainly in Central America.
Bees are strategic allies of the coffee plantations, thanks to them the plants improve their productivity, establish the fruit, and define the weight of the bean.
