We all know that bees are very important to maintaining a healthy ecosystem, but did you also know that they play a role in the production of the coffee that we drink every day?
Coffee such as Arabica is actually a self pollinating plant, however the pollination provided by honey bees acts as a sort of boost for the plants, helping the plants produce 20-25% more fruit while also increasing the quality of the fruit. Bees pollinate 70 out of the approximate 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world!
Nature has an interesting way attract bees to their plants. Caffeine is a natural secondary compound found in the roots and leaves of some plants – like coffee and citrus, for instance. It’s also found in the sweet and appetizing nectar of those plants flowers, as a way to trick honey bees into repeatedly visiting them.
But now climate change is threatening both the bees and the areas in which coffee can grow. Researchers have projected that by 2050, climate change could reduce the amount of ground usable to grow coffee in Latin America by up to 88%. While the future does appear daunting, tons of organizations and scientists around the world are still fighting for the bees.
Espresso Bella Blog 