That increase cut the coffee berry borer infestation rates from about 35 % to less than 15 %, bringing with it a slight increase
in coffee yields despite the reduced growing area.
He and his student Alexandra Klein noticed that not only was
coffee yield higher with more bee species, but malformations such as unevenly shaped beans were also reduced.
Yet other theories insist that medium
roast coffees yield the highest level of antioxidant activity.
Bees have a positive effect
on coffee yield, on the fruit that is set and on the weight of the berries, and native bee species are often more effective pollinators than invader or introduced bee species.
«Even half a degree at the wrong time can make a big difference
in coffee yield, flavour, and aroma.
That seems a long way off, but the effects may already be upon us:
coffee yields are at a 35 - year low.