Coffee

In his research titled Influence of Roasting on the Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of the Philippine Coffee, Dr. Ruel M. Mojica (of Cavite State University, Philippines) found that degrees of roasting have significant effects on the antioxidant activity of both Coffea robusta and C. liberica samples. Findings here show that light roasted coffee gives the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity among coffee samples roasted to varying degrees. In his report, roasted beans generally contain less polyphenols than green beans (as chlorogenic acid present in green coffee is degraded upon roasting). The research found that "considerable increase" in phenolic content occurred in light roast samples and began to decrease in medium roast to very dark roast samples (as was the antioxidant activities with an increase in the degree of roast).In a time of changing eating habits, food products containing antioxidants are popular as their health benefits are scientifically proven.This research by Dr. Mojica is featured in the BAR Chronicle (http://goo.gl/wZdZP), the official monthly publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) of the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines. 03/05/2011
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Until recently, the coffee berry borer, a beetle that devastates coffee plants, was confined to just a few regions in Central Africa. But since the 1980s, the beetle has gradually spread to every coffee-growing region except Hawaii, Nepal, and Papua New Guinea. Juliana Jaramillo, a biologist at ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya, suspects temperature increases are to blame. She and her collaborators recently identified the temperature range in which the beetle can survive. They found that the average minimum temperature the borer requires to reproduce is about 68 degrees F. In their research, Jaramillo and her collaborators found that for every 1.8 degrees F increase in temperature, the coffee berry borer became 8.5 per cent more infectious on average. A follow up study, published this year in the Journal of Economic Entomology, found that higher temperatures also caused the female beetles to travel from berry to berry earlier. Coffee farmers need new strategies to combat threats such as the coffee berry borer. (Source: The Guardian, 27 August 2010) 05/11/2010
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Coles, C. 2011. Kilimanjaro and Oromia Coffee Value Chain Case Studies: Producer Benefits from Fair Trade and Free Market Channels. NCCR North-South Dialogue, 34. Bern, Switzerland: NCCR North-South.As part of a transversal research project exploring coffee value chains in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya, this study conducted by Christopher Coles from the NCCR North-South (National Centre of Competence in Research – North-South Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) in Bern, Switzerland, traced Fair Trade and open market coffee value chains in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania and in the Jimma Region, Ethiopia. Its objective is to identify factors that affect how intended Fair Trade benefits can be attenuated by political and social institutions at different levels in their translation into the everyday realities for coffee farmers. It compares the governance frameworks and benefit distribution among actors in both chains and makes insightful recommendations for policy changes in order to maximise returns for smallholder farmers. 02/11/2011
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Over the past decade, coffee producers have been struggling with the world market’s low and unstable coffee prices. Some coffee producing countries try to overcome this crisis by moving from pure commodity exports to higher-price exports of niche market quality products, like “single-origin coffee”, protected by intellectual property tools. Such protection can take the form of trademarks or geographical indications. At present within the single-origin coffee sector, a trend to use the latter form can be observed. For example, “Café de Colombia” was registered as a Protected Geographical Indication under Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006. Another recent example is the Ethiopian Fine Coffee Trademarking and Licensing Initiative. In order to protect its coffee industry, the Ethiopian government has filed trademark applications for the country’s most valuable brands in over 30 countries, including all major coffee markets. This article suggests that both concepts offer mixed blessings. The particularities of the global coffee market might in some cases be better accommodated by a trademark scheme whilst in other cases by a geographical indication system. However, in order to ensure the individual farmer benefits from the higher price paid for single-origin coffee on the world coffee market, further steps have to be taken.Author: L. Schussler (2009), Estey Centre Journal of International Law and Trade Policy 10(1): 149-185 04/11/2009
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