Climate change: Prince Charles hears how biodiversity can save our cups of coffee
PRINCE Charles visited Kew Gardens yesterday to meet scientists helping to save our morning cup of coffee from the threat of climate change.
He was joined by President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon at the south-west London venue as they met experts who have rediscovered a coffee species resilient to higher temperatures.
It is capable of protecting the livelihoods of 100 million farmers across the world and the associated global multibillion pound business.
Botanists at Kew's Herbarium helped to rediscover the Coffea Stenophylla species, which grows in Sierra Leone. A study found the plant, which grows well in shade - so is good for forest preservation and capturing carbon - can tolerate much hotter temperatures.
Charles, 72, called for a greater focus on "critical" biodiversity, saying: "It's a terrible problem. We've made ourselves so vulnerable over the last 60, 70 years by reducing everything to just two to three species. And this is why biodiversity, regeneration is so critical, isn't it?"