A New Dawn for South Sudan: The Rise of Climate-Resilient Coffee

Introduction: A Mother’s Hope for a Better Future

In the heart of Nzara County, South Sudan, Catherine Bashiama tenderly inspects her coffee trees, her fingers tracing the branches where the first buds of her labor are beginning to appear. For three years, she has nurtured these seedlings, hoping they will yield the fruit that could transform her family’s life. A mother of 12, Catherine has never grown coffee before, but she is pinning her hopes on a rare, climate-resistant species known as excelsa. This coffee, native to South Sudan, could be the key to lifting her family out of poverty and securing a brighter future for her children. "I want to send my children to school so they can be the future generation," she says, her voice filled with determination. Catherine’s story is just one among many in a region where coffee is emerging as a beacon of hope in the face of climate change and economic hardship.

The Global Coffee Crisis and the Promise of Excelsa

The global coffee industry is facing an unprecedented crisis, driven by climate change. Leading coffee-producing countries like Brazil are struggling to maintain their yields as drier and more unpredictable weather conditions take their toll. This year, Brazil’s coffee harvest is expected to drop by 12%, according to experts, sending global coffee prices soaring to their highest levels in decades. Amid this crisis, excelsa coffee is gaining attention as a potential savior. Native to South Sudan and a few other African countries, excelsa is a robust species with deep roots, thick leaves, and a strong trunk that allows it to thrive in extreme conditions like drought and heat. It is also resistant to many pests and diseases that plaque other coffee species. Aaron Davis, a leading coffee researcher at the Royal Botanic Gardens in London, notes that "history shows us that sometimes the world doesn’t give you a choice," and excelsa could play a key role in adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.

Coffee’s History in South Sudan

Despite its potential, South Sudan has never been known as a major coffee-producing nation. Unlike its neighbors Ethiopia and Uganda, which have long histories of coffee production, South Sudan’s coffee tradition was disrupted by decades of conflict and colonisation. The British colonizers introduced coffee to the region, growing robusta and arabica species, but much of this activity ceased during the prolonged periods of war that plagued the country. Today, many younger generations in South Sudan have little experience with coffee farming, though older residents remember their parents and grandparents tending to coffee trees. The excelsa species, however, has always been present in the region, often referred to simply as "the big tree" due to its towering height of up to 15 meters. Its unique qualities and potential were only recently recognised, offering a new opportunity for the country to establish itself in the global coffee market.

Reviving the Coffee Industry in South Sudan

Efforts to revive South Sudan’s coffee industry are underway, with companies like Equatoria Teak, a sustainable agro-forestry firm, leading the charge. Ian Paterson, the company’s managing director, describes excelsa as a coffee that is "at the forefront" of their efforts to unlock its potential. The company has been conducting trials on excelsa for years, with promising results. Not only does the tree thrive in extreme heat, but it also shows great resilience to pests and diseases. Equatoria Teak has partnered with local communities, providing seedlings and training to over 1,500 farmers, including Catherine Bashiama. These farmers are now cultivating excelsa coffee, which they can sell back to the company for processing and export. Initial results are encouraging, with many of the trees starting to produce their first harvests this year. Paterson hopes to export the first batch of excelsa coffee to specialty shops in Europe by 2027, with projections suggesting that the industry could inject up to $2 million into South Sudan’s economy by then. Companies like Nespresso have already expressed interest in the coffee, but scaling up production to meet global demand remains a significant challenge.

Challenges of Building a Coffee Industry in South Sudan

Despite the promise of excelsa, the challenges of building a coffee industry in South Sudan are immense. The country’s lack of infrastructure and ongoing instability make it difficult to transport coffee to international markets. For example, a truck carrying 30 tons of coffee must travel over 1,800 miles to reach the port in Kenya, with the first leg of the journey through Uganda costing over $7,500—up to five times more expensive than in neighboring countries. Insecurity also poses a major threat. In Western Equatoria, where Nzara County is located, tensions remain high following the president’s removal of the governor earlier this year. Gunfire and fears of violence have forced many residents to flee their homes, disrupting farming activities and making it difficult for businesses to operate. Alison Barnaba, the state’s minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Environment, urges companies to focus on their business and avoid mixing with politics. "If I’m a businessman, dealing with my business, let me not mix with politics. Once you start mixing your business with politics, definitely you will end up in chaos," he warns. Additionally, the government’s financial struggles, including unpaid civil servants and a recent rupture of a crucial oil pipeline, further complicate efforts to invest in agriculture.

Coffee as a Path to Stability and Prosperity

For many in South Sudan, coffee represents a chance to break free from poverty and build a more stable future. Farmers like Catherine Bashiama and Taban John, who hope to use their coffee earnings to send their children to school and improve their livelihoods, are at the heart of this movement. However, for coffee to truly thrive in South Sudan, a long-term commitment to stability and development is needed. As one farmer, Elia Box, who lost half his coffee crop to fire, puts it, "Coffee needs peace." The success of excelsa coffee in South Sudan is not just about the potential of a resilient crop; it is about the resilience of the people who are working tirelessly to rebuild their lives and their country. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, South Sudan’s excelsa coffee offers a glimmer of hope—not just for the global coffee industry but for the thousands of families who see in it a way out of poverty and into a brighter future.