How Coffee Production Shapes Global Biodiversity: In the ever-evolving landscape of global agriculture, few crops have as wide-reaching an impact as coffee. As one of the most traded commodities in the world, coffee production touches the lives of over 125 million people and supports thousands of communities across tropical regions. But behind every cup lies a hidden cost: the growing threat to biodiversity.
The Link Between Coffee Production and Biodiversity Loss
Coffee thrives in tropical ecosystems—regions that are also the most biologically diverse and ecologically sensitive on Earth. However, traditional models of coffee production, especially full-sun monocultures, have historically contributed to deforestation, habitat destruction, and soil degradation.
This deforestation contributes directly to biodiversity loss. When forests are cleared for coffee production, plant and animal species lose their habitat, food chains are disrupted, and ecosystems become increasingly fragile. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that current extinction rates are 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than natural background rates—much of it linked to agriculture, including coffee.
