Impact of climate changes in the suitable areas for Coffea arabica L. production in Mozambique: Agroforestry as an alternative management system to strengthen crop sustainability

Climate changes (CC) are a main global phenomenon, with a worldwide impact on natural and agricultural ecosystems. The objective of this study was to analyse the potential impact of future CC on the suitability of areas for rainfed coffee growth, both at the Mozambique national scale and in the Gorongosa Mountain, under Agroforestry (AFS) and Full Sun (FS) management systems. The latter study site is part of the Gorongosa National Park (PNG), one of the most biodiverse places and an outstanding case of successful ecosystem restoration, including the rainforest from Gorongosa Mountain. Additionally, coffee cultivation in PNG under AFS is part of a strategy to strengthen the socio-economic sustainability of the local population, and the recovery of biodiversity in a degraded tropical rainforest ecosystem. Future climate assessments were elaborated through bioclimatic and biophysical variables (Elevation), with Coffea arabica L. being modeled under the current conditions and four global climate models (GCMs) using four Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs). Isothermality, annual precipitation, and altitude were the most important variables influencing suitable areas in Mozambique. The analysis revealed that currently suitable areas where C. arabica is grown in Mozambique will be negatively affected under future scenarios (SSP126 to SSP585) in both systems (AFS and FS), although with clear worst impacts for FS. Under AFS, suitable areas will be reduced between about half and two-thirds by 2041–2060, and up to 91% by 2081–2100 (depending on scenarios) at the whole country level. Additionally, in Gorongosa Mountain, almost all scenarios point to a 30% reduction of the suitable area by 2041–2060, reaching 50% by 2081–2100, both in SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios. In sharp contrast, at the whole country level, the FS system is projected to be unsuitable for most of Mozambique, with area losses close to or above two-thirds already in 2021–2040, and greater than 80% by 2061–2080. Under this system, the projections were even more dramatic, pointing to a total absence of adequate areas at Gorongosa Mountain already by 2021–2040. Overall, our study provides clear evidence that the implementation of AFS greatly reduces CC deleterious impacts, being crucial to guarantee the sustainability of the coffee crop in the near future.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Agroforestry as an alternative management system to strengthen crop sustainability

Funding Information: This work was supported by national funds of Camões – Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua (Portugal), Agência Brasileira de Cooperação (Brazil), and Parque Nacional da Gorongosa (Mozambique), through the project GorongosaCafé (TriCafé), as well as through Portuguese national funds from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), through the grants SFRH/BD/135357/2017 (C. Cassamo), and the Scientific Employment Stimulus - Individual Call (CEEC Individual) - 2021.01107.CEECIND/CP1689/CT0001 (I. Marques), and to the research units UIDB/00239/2020 (CEF), UIDB/00329/2020 (CE3C) and UIDP/04035/2020 (GeoBioTec). Funding from CNPq, Brazil (F. Partelli) is also greatly acknowledged. Funding Information: This work was supported by national funds of Camões – Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua (Portugal), Agência Brasileira de Cooperação (Brazil), and Parque Nacional da Gorongosa (Mozambique), through the project GorongosaCafé (TriCafé), as well as through Portuguese national funds from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia , I.P. (FCT), through the grants SFRH/BD/135357/2017 (C. Cassamo), and the Scientific Employment Stimulus - Individual Call (CEEC Individual) - 2021.01107.CEECIND/CP1689/CT0001 (I. Marques), and to the research units UIDB/00239/2020 (CEF), UIDB/00329/2020 (CE3C) and UIDP/04035/2020 (GeoBioTec). Funding from CNPq , Brazil (F. Partelli) is also greatly acknowledged. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The AuthorsClimate changes (CC) are a main global phenomenon, with a worldwide impact on natural and agricultural ecosystems. The objective of this study was to analyse the potential impact of future CC on the suitability of areas for rainfed coffee growth, both at the Mozambique national scale and in the Gorongosa Mountain, under Agroforestry (AFS) and Full Sun (FS) management systems. The latter study site is part of the Gorongosa National Park (PNG), one of the most biodiverse places and an outstanding case of successful ecosystem restoration, including the rainforest from Gorongosa Mountain. Additionally, coffee cultivation in PNG under AFS is part of a strategy to strengthen the socio-economic sustainability of the local population, and the recovery of biodiversity in a degraded tropical rainforest ecosystem. Future climate assessments were elaborated through bioclimatic and biophysical variables (Elevation), with Coffea arabica L. being modeled under the current conditions and four global climate models (GCMs) using four Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs). Isothermality, annual precipitation, and altitude were the most important variables influencing suitable areas in Mozambique. The analysis revealed that currently suitable areas where C. arabica is grown in Mozambique will be negatively affected under future scenarios (SSP126 to SSP585) in both systems (AFS and FS), although with clear worst impacts for FS. Under AFS, suitable areas will be reduced between about half and two-thirds by 2041–2060, and up to 91% by 2081–2100 (depending on scenarios) at the whole country level. Additionally, in Gorongosa Mountain, almost all scenarios point to a 30% reduction of the suitable area by 2041–2060, reaching 50% by 2081–2100, both in SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios. In sharp contrast, at the whole country level, the FS system is projected to be unsuitable for most of Mozambique, with area losses close to or above two-thirds already in 2021–2040, and greater than 80% by 2061–2080. Under this system, the projections were even more dramatic, pointing to a total absence of adequate areas at Gorongosa Mountain already by 2021–2040. Overall, our study provides clear evidence that the implementation of AFS greatly reduces CC deleterious impacts, being crucial to guarantee the sustainability of the coffee crop in the near future.publishersversionpublishe

Shade and Altitude Implications on the Physical and Chemical Attributes of Green Coffee Beans from Gorongosa Mountain, Mozambique

Coffea arabica L. is as a tropical crop that can be grown under monocrop or agroforestry (AFS) systems, usually at altitudes greater than 600 m, with suitable environmental conditions to bean quality. This study aimed to assess the effect of altitude (650, 825, and 935 m) and light conditions (deep shade—DS, and moderate shade—MS provided by native trees, and full Sun—FS) on the physical and chemical attributes of green coffee beans produced in the Gorongosa Mountain. Regardless of altitude, light conditions (mainly MS and FS) scarcely affected most of the studied physical and chemical attributes. Among the few exceptions in physical attributes, bean mass tended to lower values under FS in all three altitudes, whereas bean density increased under FS at 650 m. As regards the chemical compound contents, sporadic changes were found. The rises in trigonelline (MS and FS at 935 m), soluble sugars (FS at 935 m), and the decline in p-coumaric acid (MS and FS at 825 m), may indicate an improved sensory profile, but the rise in FQAs (FS at 825 m) could have a negative impact. These results highlight a relevant uncertainty of the quality changes of the obtained bean. Altitude (from 650 to 935 m) extended the fruit maturation period by four weeks, and altered a larger number of bean attributes. Among physical traits, the average sieve (consistent tendency), bean commercial homogeneity, mass, and density increased at 935 m, whereas the bean became less yellowish and brighter at 825 and 935 m (b*, C* colour attributes), pointing to good bean trade quality, usually as compared with beans from 650 m. Furthermore, at 935 m trigonelline and 5-CQA (MS and FS) increased, whereas FQAs and diCQAs isomers declined (in all light conditions). Altogether, these changes likely contributed to improve the sensory cup quality. Caffeine and p-coumaric acid showed mostly inconsistent variations. Overall, light conditions (FS, MS, or DS) did not greatly and consistently altered bean physical and chemical attributes, whereas altitude (likely associated with lower temperature, greater water availability (rainfall/fog), and extended maturation period) was a major driver for bean changes and improved qualityinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio