New digital library offers coffee farmers climate solutions as half of arabica growing regions face extinction by 2050

The world’s morning coffee ritual faces a serious threat: climate change is expected to render roughly half of all arabica coffee-growing regions unsuitable for cultivation by 2050. But while the crisis looms large, environmental experts say the solutions already exist—they just need to be more accessible to farmers worldwide.

Coffee Watch, a nonprofit organization, has launched a comprehensive digital library containing all existing research on coffee agroforestry, a farming technique that could help save the world’s most beloved beverage. The approach involves growing coffee alongside other trees and plants to create protective microclimates that buffer against extreme weather conditions.

“Coffee is a very sensitive little plant,” explains Etelle Higonnet, founder and director of Coffee Watch. “It doesn’t like cold, but it doesn’t like hot. It doesn’t like dry, but it doesn’t like wet.” This finicky crop thrives only in mountainous tropical regions with precise temperature and rainfall conditions—what Higonnet calls the “Goldilocks” balance.

Coffee agroforestry mimics natural forest ecosystems, providing shade and moisture regulation while supporting soil health and biodiversity. The companion plants can include fruit trees or other cash crops, offering farmers additional income sources and food security. The new e-library aims to prevent companies from “reinventing the wheel” with redundant pilot projects, instead providing proven strategies to help coffee producers adapt to our changing climate. With millions of livelihoods dependent on coffee cultivation, this knowledge-sharing initiative could prove crucial for both farmers and coffee lovers worldwide.