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SWITZERLAND – Nestlé has announced the development of Star 4, a novel high-yielding Arabica coffee variety designed to mitigate the impact of climate change on the coffee supply chain and enable lower greenhouse gas emissions from coffee farming.
The new coffee variety is being launched in response to the growing threat of climate change, which could significantly reduce the area suitable for coffee growing.
According to an IPCC study, the land suitable for growing Arabica coffee might be reduced by over 50 percent by 2050.
Jeroen Dijkman, Head of Nestlé’s Institute of Agricultural Sciences said, “Our field trials have demonstrated that, using similar inputs, the yields of Star 4 are substantially higher than the two most used Brazilian local varieties, which reduces its carbon footprint.”
The new variety is characterized by larger bean size and resistance to coffee rust, a fungus-based foliar disease known to threaten coffee crops, which enables higher yields and greater resilience.
Nestlé noted that the new variety will feature reduced greenhouse gas emissions properties, driven by the higher-yielding plants and improved farming methods.
In 2022, Nestlé launched a Regenerative Agriculture Framework aimed at helping the company reach its sustainability and 2050 net zero climate goal through promoting sustainable farming practices and responsible sourcing.
Additionally, the company’s Nescafé Plan 2030 outlines initiatives to improve the sustainability of coffee farming and help farmers transition to regenerative agriculture practices, with planned investments of over US$1 billion by 2030.
Beyond the development of Star 4, Nestlé has also developed two Robusta varieties, Roubi 1 and 2, which are being rolled out in Mexico.
The launch of Star 4 comes at a time when coffee prices are already reaching new highs.
Italian coffee group Lavazza has warned that coffee prices are set to rise further due to poor harvests, supply chain disruptions, and new EU deforestation regulations.
Arabica futures have increased by 34 percent since the start of the year in New York, reaching US$5,556 per tonne last week.
This trend is expected to continue globally, with supply chain pressures likely keeping prices high until mid-2025. In the UK alone, coffee prices could increase by 20-25 percent over the next year.
Giuseppe Lavazza, Chairman of Lavazza, noted that while the industry is accustomed to fluctuations in the prices of Arabica beans, the unprecedented surge in the price of robusta beans is adding further pressure on the profit margins of coffee suppliers.
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