On International Coffee Day 2025, the global coffee community is called to action to address critical challenges threatening farmers' livelihoods, including climate change, labor shortages, and incomes below the poverty line.
Oct 1, 2025
Source:
Yale E360
Global Coffee Sector Confronts Mounting Crises
The global coffee industry is sounding the alarm on International Coffee Day 2025, highlighting a convergence of crises that threaten the livelihoods of millions of farmers. The focus this year shifts from celebration to a pressing call for collective action.
Organized by the International Coffee Organization (ICO), the theme is “More Than Ever: Embracing Collaboration for Collective Action.” This underscores the urgent need for unity to tackle the industry’s most severe challenges.
Three core issues dominate the conversation: destructive climate change, persistent labor shortages, and farmer incomes that fall below the poverty line. These factors combine to create an unstable future for the world's most popular beverage.
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Source:
NPR
The Key Threats to Coffee Production
Coffee growers are on the front lines of a global storm, facing environmental and economic pressures that endanger their crops and communities.
Climate Change Impact
Coffee plants are notoriously sensitive to weather. Rising global temperatures and unpredictable rainfall are shrinking the world's viable coffee-growing regions. Farmers report increased threats from pests and diseases that thrive in warmer conditions, according to reports from organizations like the Fairtrade Foundation.
Widespread Labor Shortages
Many coffee-producing regions are struggling to find and keep workers. This shortage is fueled by:
Low wages that fail to provide a stable income.
Migration of younger generations to urban centers seeking better opportunities.
Poverty in the Supply Chain
Despite high retail prices for coffee, many smallholder farmers earn shockingly little. The complex supply chain often sees profits concentrated in the hands of roasters and retailers, leaving growers with a fraction of the final price and vulnerable to market volatility.
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