High hopes for Laotian hydrogen-roasted coffeeーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

Studies suggest that by 2050 climate change may slash by half the amount of land suitable for growing Arabica coffee, the species that ends up in around 60% of the world's cups of joe. As parts of efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, brew fans in Laos are working on a new cleaner way of roasting the sweet tasty beans. NHK World's Ari Phungchan reports. On the Bolovene Pato in southern Laos, the coffee cherries are ready for harvest. At over 1,000 meters above sea level, coffee grown here benefits from moderate temperature differences between day and night, as well as a mineral-rich soil. But to achieve commercial success, the area still needs to raise its international profile. Nishio Ryutaro is from a Japanese company that engages in environmental projects in Southeast Asia. He hopes to help tackle the challenge. Working with local producers and the Laos government, he aims to use the novel technique of hydrogen roasting to give the region an edge. I think it can become globally competitive. For one thing, it's very tasty. And with the added value of our hydrogen roasting, we can compete on the world stage. A roasting plant near the farm began trial production in the fall. Burning hydrogen at 200 degrees Celsius is a crucial step in roasting that brings out the coffee's aroma and flavor. Roasters normally run on natural gas, but using hydrogen eliminates carbon dioxide emissions. And that means the coffee can be marketed as environmentally friendly. But there's a cost barrier, as hydrogen is generally more expensive than natural gas. And that pushes up the final price. The key to solving this problem is hydroelectric power, something that's Electricity rates in Laos, which exports power to its neighbors, are about one-third of countries like Japan. Using this cheap power to produce hydrogen could also keep coffee prices low. We plan to build a hydrogen roasting plant here. The new facility will produce both hydrogen and roast beans. Its target capacity of 5,000 tons a year will make it one of the largest in the country, with full-scale production scheduled for 2027. The hydrogen is produced locally and used locally. We also source the beans here. Which allows us to offer competitive prices. We would like to create a brand where hydrogen-roasted coffee equals Laos. That will raise awareness of Laotian coffee around the world. If all goes to plan, the power of eco-friendly beans could put Laotian hydrogen-roasted coffee on the map. Ari Phumjan, NHK World, Laos.