Let me start off by saying that I think the stink surrounding GMO crops is bullshit. Humans have been genetically modifying crops since we formed clans that were less nomadic and converted to hunter/gatherers. We didn’t know what the science behind it was, but we noticed that certain crops could be made sturdier by pruning out weaker or undesireable plants.
It wasn’t until the mid 1850s that an Austrian monk named Gregor Mendel set the stage for modern genetics by performing experiments on pea plants. Mendel still didn’t know what the “unit” was, but his experiments showed that there were predictable ratios of “traits” that could be manipulated. Today, we know that unit is a gene, and all the genes that make up an organism is a complete genome.
So, that’s a sort of long winded intro to some comments on this article:
https://news.discovery.com/human/life/coffee-genome-reveals-secrets-of-a-good-brew-140905.htm
Coffee geeks everywhere should be super excited about the possibilities of this. Again, there’s nothing really new here except the techniques. We no longer have to rely on Mendelian experiments to breed better plants, we can use much more precise techniques to create crops that are drought resistant, or pest resistant, or Arabica plants that can grow in a wider climate zone.
Today, we almost always use a blend to craft espresso brews to maintain consistency. And we all know that espresso is a brewing method, not a bean or roast. But, what if we could actually grow an ideal espresso bean? Or, a totally natural decaffeinated bean? Or…use your imagination.
Better coffee? Yes please.