Declining coffee production in Africa spurs soil health and nematode control research

As global coffee consumption continues to rise, driven by increasing demand for the beverage, the African coffee trade faces a challenging trend of declining production. While coffee plantations in Asia are expanding rapidly to meet global demand, Africa is witnessing a concerning decrease in its coffee output. This decline has been attributed to multiple factors, including land loss to real estate development and the significant impact of pests and diseases on coffee crops.

One of the countries feeling the impact of this decline is Kenya, where coffee has long been a cornerstone of the economy. Despite the high global demand for Kenyan coffee, characterized by its superior quality as an Arabica variety, the country’s coffee industry is stagnating. Aging coffee plantations and limited investments in new farms have contributed to diminishing yields. The persistent challenges posed by pests and diseases, such as nematodes, which can gradually devastate perennial crops like coffee, further compound the issue.

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