What is a potential impact of climate change on coffee crops?

The potential impact of climate change on coffee crops is indeed accurately represented by the option that highlights the increased prevalence of pests and diseases. As temperatures rise and weather patterns change, coffee plants become more vulnerable to various pests and diseases that can adversely affect their growth and yield. Warmer conditions can create an ideal environment for pests such as the coffee borer beetle, as well as diseases like coffee leaf rust, which thrive in these altered climates.

These challenges can lead to lower productivity and quality of coffee beans, ultimately affecting farmers' livelihoods and the global coffee supply chain. Farmers may need to invest more resources in pest management and disease control to protect their crops, thereby increasing the economic burden on coffee producers, particularly those in developing countries who may already face other significant agricultural challenges due to environmental stressors.

This is a critical concern in the context of ethical sourcing and sustainability, as it emphasizes the need for adaptive practices and resources to support coffee growers in navigating the impacts of climate change. Other choices may suggest outcomes that are unlikely or overly optimistic given the current understanding of climate change impacts on agriculture.