High temperatures are leading to an overhaul of coffee production

The intense heat in recent months, especially since March, was a major factor in the coffee harvest being reevaluated in Southeast Brazil. High temperatures combined, mainly, with the reduction in the volume of rain during the autumn-winter period were at the center of the debates at the 4th Coffee and Climate Forum, which Cooxupé (Regional Cooperative of Coffee Growers in Guaxupé) held on Tuesday, September 27 .

For the coordinator of the Cooxupé Geoprocessing Department, Éder Ribeiro dos Santos, the drought began earlier, from March, and lasted until mid-September, and was also accompanied by a lot of heat.

“The winter was very hot, and in July, some cities in Cooxupé’s area of ​​operation recorded maximum temperatures close to 40 degrees”, he states.

Before that, excessive rains in October 2021 and January 2022 accompanied by a long period of cloudy weather (low solar radiation) ended up influencing the setting of the flowering and the weight of the fruit (grain). “We had a rainy October with low solar radiation. This also occurred in January, which impacted the setting and, consequently, the weight and productivity of the coffee”, reinforces Santos.

Assessments like this are also supported because Cooxupé routinely invests in technology. By the end of the year, the cooperative will install another 60 meteorological stations within its region of operation, reaching a total of 77. And, by 2023, the installation of another 30 is already planned.

The cooperative also has 350 rain gauges installed on member properties. This entire meteorological network aims to know, in detail, the volume and way in which rain is distributed within its coverage area.

From a physiology point of view, the intense water deficit observed from March to September 2022 and the low solar radiation in October 2021 and January 2022 were some of the topics covered by professor Cláudio Pagotto Ronchi.

“The low temperatures of July 2021 and excessive rain in October, accompanied by low solar radiation, may have influenced floral differentiation and flower setting”, explains the professor. He also commented on the impact of unfavorable weather conditions on coffee development and yield.

Climatic phenomena

Behind all these components that force a review of the harvest and, consequently, productivity, are climate factors that impact the entire world.

In 2022, La Niña took center stage, a natural phenomenon that consists of the abnormal cooling of Pacific waters (close to the Equator).

Thus, the south and southeast of Brazil experienced more intense periods of drought while the north and northeast experienced an increase in rainfall.

Knowledgeable about the topic, Agricultural Engineer and Agrometeorologist Marco Antônio dos Santos, confirms that this is an event that affects agriculture.

“Despite being weakened, La Niña is still active and caused significant losses during the 2021/22 harvest. On the other hand, the rain regime should regularize between now and February”, he concludes.

In short, based on projections and climate models, it is possible to predict trends, offering analytical support to the entire production chain. The event, in full, is available on the Cooxupé YouTube channel, at this link.