Farmers at Good Land Organics situated in Santa Barbara, California, are working in conjunction with researchers at the University of California to figured out a genetic solution to maximize immunity and crop yield simultaneously. Juan Medrano, at UC Davis, is specifically studying the effects of altitude on gene expression as a potential solution to the coffee epidemic.
Regardless of possible solutions, what is agreed upon amongst scientists that the sakes are extremely high. London's Royal Botanical Gardens estimates that two thirds of coffee growing regions in Africa could be destroyed by 2080, and wild Arabica, the best selling coffee species, could be extinct by 2020. The future of coffee hinges on the genetic analysis of the beloved crops.
Main Article: http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/11/18/genetics-might-help-grow-the-perfect-cup-of-coffee/
Related Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffea_arabica
Neat article; coffee is definitely something relevant to college students! It seems that coffee crops are now on the list of GMO products. Also, I found it interesting that variation in growing altitude affects the coffee's taste.
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