Each year around 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed around the world, making the beverage the second in popularity, only to water.
Meanwhile, coffee as a crop, which is grown on around 12.5 million farms in more than 50 countries, is said to generate more revenue for developing countries than any commodity, except oil.
While the coffee industry is estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars each year, cultivating the bean come at a price to the environment.
The impact ranges from forest clearances in Central America and the contamination of rivers by coffee processing plants, to the creation of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of organic waste and the generation of carbon emissions.
A key way in which coffee production generates carbon emissions is linked to nitrogen fertiliser often used with coffee trees. It has been calculated that nitrogen fertiliser production accounts for around 2 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
This production is “very energy intensive” says Jeremy Haggar, professor of agroecology at the University of Greenwich’s Natural Resources Institute in the UK. “You have to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere usually. That contributes to the embedded greenhouse gas or CO2 emissions associated with the fertiliser,” adds Prof Haggar, who has spent two decades researching the coffee industry, a lot of it in Central America.
Once the fertiliser is applied, it partially turns into a potent greenhouse gas called nitrous oxide, adding to the impact on the climate.
Prof Haggar says that fertiliser use, while not especially high for coffee compared to other crops, varies significantly between farms. “There are farmers who apply none and farmers who may apply very high amounts — hundreds of kilograms per hectare,” he said. “Highly productive farms will tend to be using fairly high and large amounts.”
Certificates are provided to indicate if coffee is grown in a more sustainable way. They include certification from the Rainforest Alliance, which promotes sustainable production methods, including avoiding the excessive use of fertiliser.
Planting shade trees can protect the crop from extreme weather and reduce nutrient demand and the need to use fertiliser.
In addition to looking for certificates, consumers may wish to choose coffee that is less likely to have been grown in a vast monoculture; which is the practice of growing one crop species in a field at a time.
Such monocultures are more common with Robusta beans, according to Mark Maslin, professor of earth system science at University College London and author of How to Save Our Planet: The Facts. Arabica beans however, tend to be grown more often, he said, in smaller, better managed farms.
How the coffee is processed and transported also changes its environmental impact. Coffee is picked as cherries, which can be dried before the removal of the coffee beans. This leaves behind dry fruit material, which Prof Haggar says should ideally be used as compost. “Depending on how it’s done, this can also release methane and nitrogen dioxide,” he added, referring to two potent greenhouse gases.
The alternative “wet” processing method involves the fleshy outer pulp of the cherries being removed, which also generates methane as well as a large amount of contaminated water.
“What is most useful is if the coffee cherries are dried and processed in the country of origin. That reduces the weight that has to be shipped down to one third,” said Prof Maslin.
The way that coffee is transported is another factor affecting that plays on its environmental impact, with transport by sea generating significantly less carbon emissions than by air.
Work by Prof Maslin and his PhD student Carmen Nab, published in 2020, found that 1kg of Arabica coffee generates 15.33kg of CO2 when grown in Brazil or Vietnam and transported to the UK by air.
However, if fertiliser is used sparingly, water and energy use minimised during processing and the coffee is shipped by sea, the figure can fall to 3.51kg of CO2.
Numerous studies have compared the environmental impact of different types of coffee, including research from Canada published this year that looked at filter coffee, coffee in a capsule, cafetiere coffee and instant coffee.
Writing in an online magazine, the researchers said that traditional filter coffee “clearly” generated the largest quantity of greenhouse gases, largely because more coffee powder is consumed.
Coffee capsules came out, perhaps against expectations, as an eco-friendly option, despite the waste they generate, because when people make a drink with these capsules no more coffee than is necessary is used and only the required amount of water is heated.
Instant coffee has the lowest impact, but only if recommended quantities of coffee and water are used. When making a cup of instant coffee, it is easy to boil two or three times as much water than is needed and to have to re-boil the kettle because the hot water has been left for a while.
In this way, energy consumption can climb well above what is needed and, the authors say, instant coffee is then no longer the most energy efficient.
A 2018 study from Australia also concluded that instant coffee was the most environmentally friendly, with the caveat being again that no more water than necessary is boiled.
To the contrary, a recent study by The University of Manchester and published on ScienceDirect found that the climate change impact of instant coffee, measured in terms of CO2 emissions generated, was about five times that of ground coffee.
“The main reasons for a five-times higher impact of instant coffee are its glass packaging and the higher energy requirements in the coffee production process,” the authors wrote in Chemical Engineering Journal.
The packaging of instant coffee, mostly a polypropylene lid and a glass jar, accounts for around half of the climate change impact, the authors found.
“The results suggest that ground coffee is environmentally and economically more sustainable than instant coffee … because it requires less green coffee beans and energy to produce the same amount of product,” the authors added.
In line with other studies, they found that darker roasts had a higher environmental impact than lighter roasts because the former require higher roasting temperatures.
What coffee enthusiasts consume along with the coffee itself also has a big effect on the carbon footprint, with Prof Maslin’s research finding that adding milk in particular was significant.
“You triple it because you’re making a cappuccino,” he said.
Conclusions depend on how the carbon emissions are being measured. A study from 2014 cited by Prof Maslin found that a latte generated 224g of CO2 emissions per serving, compared to 49g for an espresso.
If the impact is, however, measured per millilitre instead of per serving, the latte has a lower carbon footprint than espresso.
Another factor is what cups the coffee is drunk in, with a reusable mug typically preferable in terms of its low environmental impact.
Dr Jeroen Guinee, an associate professor at Leiden University in the Netherlands, says that partly depends on consumers' behaviour.
“If we wash our reusable mug elaborately every day with hot water and soap, and break it or otherwise shorten its lifetime, the difference between a mug and disposable plastic or paper cups may not be that big,” he said.
“Normally, however, the reusable mug will clearly environmentally outperform the disposable paper and other alternatives.”
Prof Haggar said that, in keeping with greater awareness about environmental issues more widely, sustainability has become more of an issue in the coffee industry in the past two decades.
“That’s led to substantial investments by coffee traders and buyers, and by coffee farmers, in reducing the environmental impact,” he said.
Nonetheless, he said that probably around two-thirds of coffee production still “has a way to go” in achieving a good environmental performance.
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Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 571bhp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh431,800
Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: from Dh431,800
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2A)
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Look north
BBC business reporters, like a new raft of government officials, are being removed from the national and international hub of London and surely the quality of their work must suffer.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Makerah, Adrie de Vries, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Hazeme, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Handicap | Dh85,000 | 2,200m
Winner: AF Yatroq, Brett Doyle, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Shadwell Farm for Private Owners Handicap | Dh70,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Nawwaf KB, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Treasured Times, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
SPECS
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
SUZUME
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Makoto%20Shinkai%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Nanoka%20Hara%2C%20Hokuto%20Matsumura%2C%20Eri%20Fukatsu%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
more from Janine di Giovanni
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.0%20twin-turbo%20inline%20six-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E503hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E600Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh400%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The%20specs%20
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