Livestream Science: Coffee

Hear three scientists talk about coffeeHere three scientists talk about coffee — about the biology of the coffee plant, its cultivation and processing into the coffee we drink, about sustainable coffee, about the impact climate change will have on coffee in the future, and about the health aspects of drinking coffee.

The coffee plant is a perennial crop with enormous importance globally — both economically and culturally. Botanist Anders Barfod, who has been researching tropical plant resources for more than four decades, will provide a broad introduction to the coffee plant's botany -- including the latest exploration of its wild relatives. The Coffea genus brilliantly illustrates the great importance of agrobiodiversity for agricultural production in an ever-changing world. You will also learn about what exactly the coffee bean is in the fruit, and get insight into how to get from the harvestable 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 that we, worldwide, can enjoy 30,000 cups a second. It requires a large area of land, 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 resources economist Aske Skovmand Bosselmann will talk about the cultivation of coffee and how farmers around the world produce not only coffee beans, but also ecosystem services that we can all benefit from — for example in relation to climate change, which is a key issue in sustainable coffee today. You will also get an insight into the latest research to ensure that we can continue to drink coffee in a changing climate.

In the lecture, our use of coffee is also put into historical perspective. Indeed, the evolution of the Danish consumption pattern of coffee, from its introduction in Denmark in 1665 to the present, has been very remarkable. Diabetes and nutrition researcher Kjeld Hermansen will challenge the many claims about how coffee affects the body. For example, you often hear statements such as: “Be careful not to drink too much coffee”, “Coffee is unhealthy and can cause cancer and cardiovascular disease” and “Coffee can shorten life”. The question is, are these myths or facts? Kjeld Hermansen will review how coffee affects mortality as well as the major diseases cancer, cardiovascular disease neuropsychiatric diseases and type 2 diabetes. And you will get an insight into the work of his research group in elucidating the mechanisms of action of coffee on the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Read more about Aske Skovmand Bosselmann
Associate Professor in Agricultural Value Chains, Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen

Read more about Anders Sanchez Barfod
Associate Professor Emeritus in Botany Anders Sanchez Barfod, Department of Biology, Aarhus University

Read more about Kjeld Hermansen
Doctor and Associate Professor Emeritus in Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University

Science lectures live streamed on Big Screen With the lecture series Public Lectures in Natural Sciences from Aarhus University, you can get closer to the latest discoveries and discoveries in science. Read more about the entire lecture series here

Experience a series of lectures where you can get closer to the latest discoveries and discoveries in the natural sciences. It is scientists who lecture, the level is high and you will be challenged, but you can benefit from all lectures regardless of your professional prerequisites. Admission to the lectures is free.

The lectures are livestreamed from the Søauditorierne in Universitetsparken, Aarhus University to cinemas, libraries, folk universities, cultural houses, associations, assembly houses, colleges, schools, eateries, etc. in many cities in Denmark and abroad.

A lecture typically lasts two hours including a mid-term break of 20 minutes and a session at the end of which the lecturer answers selected questions submitted by the audience during the lecture via SMS.