A recent study has called into question the commonly held view that robusta coffee is more resilient to climate change than other coffee varieties, describing this belief as an “internet myth” rooted in flawed research. The findings, published on Thursday in the journal Sustainable Development, highlight robusta’s sensitivity to drought and other vulnerabilities that have often been overlooked in previous assessments.

Robusta coffee, produced primarily in Vietnam and Brazil, supplies tens of millions of bags annually to global markets and is frequently viewed as a lower-cost alternative to arabica beans. With demand for robusta increasing worldwide, the study’s conclusions carry significant implications for coffee producers and industry stakeholders as they navigate climate challenges.

Aaron Davis, senior research leader of crops and global change at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and lead author of the study, emphasized that the notion of robusta’s superior climate resilience emerged about a decade ago but was based on misinterpretations of scientific data. “Robusta is more heat-tolerant than arabica, but it is drought-intolerant,” Davis stated. He expressed concern that this misconception led to robusta being promoted as a solution to climate change impacts in coffee production while ignoring critical limitations.

The research critiques earlier studies that assessed robusta’s climate adaptability without sufficiently accounting for the role of irrigation. It points out that many producing regions, including Brazil, Vietnam, and India, rely heavily on irrigation to maintain robusta cultivation, masking its sensitivity to water scarcity. As these areas face growing challenges with water availability, dependence on irrigation presents a risk to the crop’s sustainable production.

Previously, some reports highlighted robusta’s drought resistance and positioned it as a favorable option for farmers confronting climate stress. However, the new study warns that any expansion of robusta cultivation must carefully consider its drought vulnerability, as well as the broader environmental and economic risks associated with irrigation dependence.

The findings arrive amid increasing urgency within the coffee sector to adapt to climate change impacts. Earlier this month, a Vietnamese government official underscored adaptation as a pressing necessity to ensure sustained coffee output in the face of shifting climate conditions.

Overall, the study urges a more nuanced understanding of robusta’s climate resilience, emphasizing that while it may tolerate higher temperatures better than arabica, its drought sensitivity and irrigation needs complicate its role as a climate-resilient coffee variety.