October 17, 2011 9:23 AM

Climate change pushing coffee to extinction?

(CBS News) 

Millions of people enjoy a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, but a group of scientists says that daily ritual could be on its way to extinction.

The driving force behind the new information is coffee giant Starbucks, reports "Early Show" contributor Taryn Winter Brill,. One of its lead scientists says global warming is threatening the world's coffee supply -- and that news isn't being well-received by coffee drinkers around the world.

On Friday, the director of sustainability for Starbucks, Jim Hanna, said climate change is threatening the world's coffee supply, telling the Guardian newspaper, "What we are really seeing as a company as we look 10, 20, 30 years down the road -- if conditions continue as they are -- is a potentially significant risk to our supply chain, which is the Arabica coffee bean."

"Coffee likes a pretty narrow range of temperatures, and one of the hallmarks, really, of climate change will be increased extremes in temperatures," Todd Sanford, a climate scientist from the Union of Concerned Scientists, said.

Scientists say climate change will cause heavier rains, longer periods of drought, and higher rates of insect infestation in the tropical areas where coffee is grown -- factors that could have a devastating effect on future coffee production.

"Those of us who enjoy our morning cup of coffee, we may not always realize that future climate change due to extreme temperatures, increased precipitation, really could in some ways put that at risk," Sanford added.

Increased carbon emissions have been linked to global climate change. So for coffee lovers, the idea of waking up without their morning brew could be a wake-up call to lead a more eco-friendly life.

This is the second time in less than a month that scientists have warned that climate change threatens a favorite food item. A few weeks ago, we were told it will be too hot by the year 2050 to grow cocoa beans in much of the Ivory Coast and Ghana, the world's main cocoa-producing countries.

© 2011 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
Add a Comment See all 14 Comments
by ge556 October 19, 2011 11:54 AM EDT
Is this what it takes to get people to care about climate change? Extinction of the polar bear, and thousands of smaller species are ho hum to most people, but coffee is important.
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by Skipper50 October 18, 2011 11:16 PM EDT
Another Crisis-du-jour. Why do none of these moronic people have any real work to do?
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by swag October 18, 2011 12:42 AM EDT
Where have you been? The SCAA conference has been harping on this subject for years, but only now is it news because some desk jockey at Starbucks repeats what everyone else has been saying for years now?
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by TStewartIII3 October 17, 2011 11:10 PM EDT
Doug Powers: Climate Change Could Cause Extinction of Coffee, According to... Starbucks
http://michellemalkin.com/2011/10/17/climate-change-coffee/
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by Br0therDave October 17, 2011 8:20 PM EDT
Just another scare tactic to raise the cost of Coffee, making stock holders rich.
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by vintermann October 18, 2011 2:51 AM EDT
If coffee production keeps up, it will be very hard for producing companies to hide it. Unlike many other commodities, coffee production is not controlled by a few large companies, so OPEC-style production cuts are hardly likely either. You will get your cheap coffee - as long as there's not too many outbidding you for it.
by rainbowroosie October 17, 2011 3:38 PM EDT
As the climate changes, areas will grow different crops suitable for cultivation in the new climate --- assuming there is a new climate...
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by ToolMangler1 October 17, 2011 5:52 PM EDT
That you can be assured of... "Climate happens". You have Ron Paul, Rick Perry and the GOP/TEA PARTY (led by the Koch Brothers) wanting to get rid of the EPA and all related agencies.
Man is too 'STUPID' to survive...
by barbaram99 October 17, 2011 12:28 PM EDT
I never drink coffee..I don't like it..Never have..My roommate drinks coffee.
Everyone blame the changing weather pattens..When my brother started talking about this in the 70s when he was in college..Then in the late 80s the weather started to change. Even in the area I was born and raised..I was shocked..
What elso will die out that we use--OIL--yep. They say bannas,now coffee and choclate..
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by shawnsBrain66 October 17, 2011 11:36 AM EDT
just in time for election season
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by Jhihmoac October 17, 2011 11:29 AM EDT
Back in the late 70's coffee crop shortage, they were using chicory as a filler...Blah! Hope it doesn't go there...
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by choptopford October 17, 2011 10:18 AM EDT
We need more money is what Starbucks is saying
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