Why bees are important for coffee production

• Bees “increase the quality of beans” by making their size more uniform

• Even though some coffee crops are self-pollinating, bees are able to supplement this pollination.

• Bees can play a role in limiting the effects of climate change, in areas where temperatures are cool enough to maintain "hearty bee populations."

• The bee coffee relationship is a two-way street! Coffee crops also benefit bees; bees drink the flower nectar to get caffeinated which makes them more productive in their pollinating activities.

References:

Imbach, P., Fung, E., Hannah, L., Navarro-Racines, C. E., Roubik, D. W., Ricketts, T. H., ... & Roehrdanz, P. R. (2017). Coupling of pollination services and coffee suitability under climate change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(39), 10438-10442.