The Tree That Wakes Us Up

There are 124 species in the genus Coffea.

Global coffee trade relies on just two of these species: Arabica (Coffea arabica) and robusta (Coffea canephora). Arabica and robusta are unusual major crop plants as the level of genetic variance from wild types is limited. This means most commercial coffee plants are similar to wild coffee.

Coffea species are known as crop wild relatives. Crop wild relatives are important because they contain genetic diversity, some of which is not present in cultivated crops.

By maintaining genetic diversity it enables varieties and cultivars to be bred to withstand pests, diseases or other risks, protecting the future of the crop. A major issue which will need to be addressed over the coming years is climate change.

At least 60% of all coffee species are threatened with extinction in the wild. The most highly threatened species are currently poorly represented in living plant collections (known as ex situ), with only 23% of Critically Endangered species held ex situ.

However, botanic gardens and ex situ collections play a crucial role in protecting species from extinction, through their living collections and in the field conservation efforts. You can use BGCI’s PlantSearch tool to discover which botanic gardens hold collections of Coffea species.

Coffee production is important all over the world but can be at the detriment of other species. In Cuba BGCI supports efforts by Cuban botanic gardens to increase diversity in coffee plantations, (e.g. with Juglans jamaicensis the West Indian walnut) as just one way to maintain this botanical wealth.