The latest study published in Nature Genetics reportedly showed that Coffee Arabica, the most commonly consumed variety of coffee, developed in Ethiopia between 600,000 years and a million years ago.
The University of Bufffalo study of the coffee genome, which was funded by Nestle, has shown that the crop grew in the wild, without any role for humans, and that it can survive climate change.
Why are the findings significant?
Poor genetic diversity has led to a shrinking population size of Arabica, which is used by popular coffee chains like Starbucks and Tim Hortons, and made the crop vulnerable to pests and illnesses.
For instance, one of the other variants of coffee, the Robusta (used primarily in the making of instant coffee), is born out of mating between Arabica and Canephora. Robusta is relatively more resistant to diseases than Arabica.
"These results (of the study) suggest a novel target locus for potentially improving pathogen resistance in Arabica," Jarkko Salojärvi, assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and one of the authors of the latest study, reportedly said.
History of coffee
Coffee is believed to have originated in the forests of Ethiopia in pre-historic times. But it wasn't a global phenomenon until the 15th century when its cultivation began in Yemen and other parts of the Arabian peninsula.
America's National Coffee Association says that coffee made it to Europe in the 17th century, thanks to the merchants from Venice travelling to the Ottoman empire.
The coffee may have reached India around the same time. Legend goes that a Sufi saint Baba Budan was so in awe of the 'magical beverage', he smuggled seven beans of coffee in his beard, on his way back from Mecca.
The saint is supposed to have planted them on the hills in modern day Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka, giving rise to the name Baba Budangiri, where his tomb is situated.
The University of Bufffalo study of the coffee genome, which was funded by Nestle, has shown that the crop grew in the wild, without any role for humans, and that it can survive climate change.
Why are the findings significant?
Poor genetic diversity has led to a shrinking population size of Arabica, which is used by popular coffee chains like Starbucks and Tim Hortons, and made the crop vulnerable to pests and illnesses.
For instance, one of the other variants of coffee, the Robusta (used primarily in the making of instant coffee), is born out of mating between Arabica and Canephora. Robusta is relatively more resistant to diseases than Arabica.
"These results (of the study) suggest a novel target locus for potentially improving pathogen resistance in Arabica," Jarkko Salojärvi, assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and one of the authors of the latest study, reportedly said.
History of coffee
Coffee is believed to have originated in the forests of Ethiopia in pre-historic times. But it wasn't a global phenomenon until the 15th century when its cultivation began in Yemen and other parts of the Arabian peninsula.
America's National Coffee Association says that coffee made it to Europe in the 17th century, thanks to the merchants from Venice travelling to the Ottoman empire.
The coffee may have reached India around the same time. Legend goes that a Sufi saint Baba Budan was so in awe of the 'magical beverage', he smuggled seven beans of coffee in his beard, on his way back from Mecca.
The saint is supposed to have planted them on the hills in modern day Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka, giving rise to the name Baba Budangiri, where his tomb is situated.
First Published: Apr 15, 2024 3:57 PM IST
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