The 26th International Conference on Coffee Science took place in Kunming, Yunnan, China from 13th to 19th November 2016.
As the world’s most influential and authoritative coffee industry conference, the event attracted some 400 attendees from 60 countries and regions worldwide, and focused on coffee science and the sustainable development of the coffee industry.
This is the first time this conference is held in China.
Statistics show that there are more than 70 countries worldwide producing coffee.Among these, China and 20 others have individual production capacities of more than 100,000 tons.
After learning of the development of Yunnan’s coffee industry, many foreign scientists had the feeling that the future of China’s coffee industry lies in Yunnan.
In 1892, a French missionary planted a coffee tree in Binchuan, west Yunnan’s Dali. It was the first coffee tree grown in mainland China.
After that, the plantation area of coffee in Yunnan grew rapidly. Such areas now cover 35 counties spanning nine prefectures and cities across the province.
As of early 2016, coffee planting areas in Yunnan totaled 1.77 million mu, with an output of 139,000 tons, accounting for more than 99 percent of China’s total, and one percent of the global total.
These red fruits have become symbols of farmers’ dreams. At present, Yunnan’s raw coffee processing capacity exceeds 150,000 tons, with a deep processing capacity 30,000 tons, and now forms a complete industrial chain.
The coffee industry has become one of the most characteristic industries in Yunnan.
Coffee also means more openness for Yunnan. Local coffee beans are favored and bought by well-known international coffee brands such as Nestle and Starbucks.
In the first three quarters this year, Yunnan saw coffee exports of 63,000 tons, up 79.3 percent, year on year.
The opening of Kunming-Rotterdam and Chongqing-Duisburg international freight services have effectively stimulated the growth of Yunnan’s coffee exports.
As the industry’s most influential and authoritative conference, the World Conference on Coffee Science provides a platform for the global coffee businesses to showcase their latest achievements in science and technology. It also provides an opportunity for international cooperation.
Yunnan, known for its picturesque natural scenery and colorful ethnic cultures, is now gaining a new signature—coffee. The beans have officially become a fresh way to see Yunnan.
Zhan Han
