Coffee // livestream from Aarhus University

The coffee plant is a perennial crop with enormous global significance – both economically and culturally. In this lecture, botanist Anders Barfod, who has researched tropical plant resources for more than four decades, will give you a broad introduction to the botany of the coffee plant – including the latest exploration of its wild relatives. The Coffea genus illustrates the great importance of biodiversity in agricultural production in a changing world. You will also gain insight into how we get from the harvest-ready fruit on the coffee bush to the steaming cup of coffee that many of us enjoy every day.

Millions of farmers in the so-called 'coffee belt' around the equator produce enough coffee for us around the world to enjoy 30,000 cups per second. It requires a large area, and historically, coffee cultivation has led to deforestation and loss of biodiversity. But under certain conditions, coffee cultivation today has a completely different role. Natural resource economist Aske Skovmand Bosselmann will tonight talk about coffee cultivation. Farmers around the world do not only produce coffee beans, but also ecosystem services from which we can all benefit – including in relation to climate change, which is today a central topic in sustainable coffee. You will also get an insight into the latest research that aims to ensure that we can continue to drink coffee in a changed climate.

The lecture also places our use of coffee in a historical perspective. The development of Danes' consumption patterns of coffee – from when it was introduced to Denmark in 1665 to today – has in fact been very remarkable. Diabetes and nutrition researcher Kjeld Hermansen will challenge the many claims about how coffee affects the body. You often hear statements such as: “You should be careful not to drink too much coffee”, “Coffee is unhealthy and can cause cancer and heart disease” and “Coffee can shorten your life”. The question is whether these are myths or facts?

Kjeld Hermansen will go through how coffee affects mortality as well as the major diseases cancer, heart disease, neuropsychiatric diseases, and type 2 diabetes. And you will get an insight into his research group's work to shed light on how coffee affects the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The lecture is part of Aarhus University's series of 'Public Lectures in Natural Sciences'.

The lecture will be livestreamed to Egtved Library. The livestream starts at 7 PM. Doors close at 6:45 PM.

Free admission. Just show up – no registration is necessary.