Catherine Bashiama from South Sudan hopes to escape poverty by cultivating excelsa coffee, a climate-resistant species discovered over a century ago. As leading coffee producers struggle due to climate change-induced droughts, the interest in excelsa is rising, particularly since it can thrive in harsh conditions. Experts highlight that while excelsa could adapt to these challenges, it currently holds less than 1% of the global coffee market compared to arabica and robusta. The need for practical large-scale cultivation of excelsa is emphasized to address the ongoing global coffee crisis.
"I want to send my children to school so they can be the future generation," said Bashiama, a mother of 12.
What history shows us is that sometimes the world doesn't give you a choice, and right now there are many coffee farmers suffering from climate change that are facing this predicament," said Aaron Davis.
Excelsa could play a key role in adapting to the climate crisis affecting coffee production globally.
The tree's deep roots, thick leathery leaves and big trunk allow it to thrive in extreme conditions such as drought and heat where other coffees cannot.
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