Coffee is the widely consumed beverage in the world — but the increase in demand is harming the planet, causing scientists and environmentalists to look for sustainable ways for producing coffee.

Bambi Semroc, senior vice president of the Center for Sustainable Lands and Waters at Conservation International said, “Most coffee goes through a wet-milling process that uses significant amounts of freshwater to de-pulp and wash the coffee. Then the coffee is dried, roasted, shipped and brewed — each of which uses energy.”

In the last three decades, increasing demand for coffee has caused 60% increase in its production, as per the International Coffee Organization.

Due to deforestation and high utilization of water as well as energy resources, increased coffee production is damaging the planet.

Scientists are trying their best to come up with a sustainable alternative for the coffee production — but currently the technology to produce it is still very costly.

Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre successfully produced cells of coffee in a bioreactor with cellular agriculture, for making production of coffee more environmentally friendly.

This lab-grown coffee removes the need for deforestation and the need of a huge water footprint as scientists can use recycled water for generating their bioreactors.

Heiko Rischer, head of plant biotechnology at the research institute said, “We’re not a coffee producer but would want to collaborate and work with parties that have the expertise and vision to bring something like this to the market.”