Sudanese Coffee Farmers Look To Excelsa As A Climate-Resistant Alternative – CoffeeTalk

Catherine Bashiama, a farmer in western South Sudan, hopes to raise her family from poverty by growing a rare, climate-resistant species of coffee tree. Excelsa coffee, discovered over a century ago in South Sudan, is attracting interest from the international community amid a global coffee crisis caused mainly by climate change. As leading coffee-producing countries struggle to grow crops in drier, less reliable weather, prices have soared to the highest in decades and the industry is scrambling for solutions. Experts say estimates from drought-stricken Brazil, the world’s top coffee grower, are that this year’s harvest could be down by some 12%.

Excelsa could play a key role in adapting to the changing climate. The tree’s deep roots, thick leathery leaves, and big trunk allow it to thrive in extreme conditions such as drought and heat where other coffees cannot. It is also resistant to many common coffee pests and diseases. Yet, excelsa comprises less than 1% of the global market, well behind the arabica and robusta species that are the most consumed coffees in the world. Experts say excelsa will have to be shown to be practical at a much larger scale to bridge the gap in the market caused by climate change.

Coffee’s history in South Sudan is unique, as it has never been known as a coffee-producing nation. British colonizers grew robusta and arabica, but much of that stopped during decades of conflict that forced people from their homes and made it hard to farm. Coffee trees require regular care such as pruning and weeding and take at least three years to yield fruit.

Excelsa coffee tastes sweet compared to robusta, with notes of chocolate, dark fruits, and hazelnut. It is more similar to arabica but generally less bitter and may have less body. Ian Paterson, managing director of Equatoria Teak, a sustainable agro-forestry company operating in South Sudan, says that the company is working with communities to revive the coffee industry and scale up production. By 2027, the coffee could inject $2 million into the economy, with big buyers such as Nespresso expressing interest. However, production needs to triple for it to be worthwhile for large buyers to invest.

South Sudan faces challenges in growing a coffee industry due to its lack of infrastructure and insecurity. The country’s coffee industry requires a 1,800-mile journey to reach Kenya, with the cost of the first leg being over $7,500, which is five times higher than neighboring countries. Moreover, it is difficult to attract investors due to ongoing fighting and tensions in Western Equatoria.

The government has warned companies to focus on business and not mix their business with politics. Plans to rehabilitate old coffee plantations and build an agriculture school are in progress, but details are unclear. South Sudan hasn’t paid its civil servants in over a year, and a rupture of a crucial oil pipeline through neighboring Sudan has tanked oil revenue.

Farmers face fires that spread quickly in the dry season, decimating their crops. Hunters use fires to scare and kill animals, while residents use them to clear land for cultivation. Fires can get out of control, and there are few measures in place to hold people accountable.

Coffee represents a chance at a better future for locals, who rely on government or foreign aid for financial independence. However, for coffee to thrive in South Sudan, a long-term mentality and stability are needed. Elia Box lost half of his coffee crop to fire in early February, and he plans to replace it but is dispirited by the work required and the lack of law and order to hold people accountable. “Coffee needs peace,” he said.

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