Lecture: Coffee

PLEASE NOTE: Due to our ongoing renovations, we have moved the lectures to the confirmation room at Præstegården.

We are once again ready with another round of lectures on current science, livestreamed directly from Aarhus University.

Admission is completely free, but registration is required via email at info@tonnisgaard.dk, by phone at +45 74 75 52 57, or through our website: https://www.tonnisgaard.dk/ture-og-aktiviteter/pop-up-aktiviteter/offentlige-foredrag-i-naturvidenskab/
Coffee, tea, and cookies will be available for purchase during the break.
Doors open at 18:40, and the lecture starts at 19:00.
You can read more about the lecture series at www.ofn.au.dk

This evening, we will hear from Associate Professor of Biology Anders Barfod, diabetes and nutrition physician Kjeld Hermansen, and Associate Professor of Agricultural Value Chains Aske Skovmand Bosselmann, as they delve into the world of Coffee.
They describe their lecture as follows:

"Listen to three researchers talk about coffee – covering the biology of the coffee plant, its cultivation and processing into the drink we enjoy, sustainable coffee, how climate change will impact the future of coffee, and the health aspects of drinking it.

The coffee plant is a perennial crop of immense global importance – both economically and culturally. Botanist Anders Barfod, who has researched tropical plant resources for over four decades, will offer a broad introduction to the botany of the coffee plant – including the latest exploration of its wild relatives. The genus Coffea brilliantly illustrates the great significance of agrobiodiversity for agricultural production in an ever-changing world. You will also learn what the coffee bean actually represents within the fruit and gain insight into how we journey from the ripe fruit on the coffee bush to the steaming cup of coffee that many of us enjoy every day.

Millions of farmers across the ‘coffee belt’ around the Equator produce enough coffee for people worldwide to enjoy 30,000 cups every second. This requires vast expanses of land, and historically, coffee farming has led to deforestation and biodiversity loss; however, under certain conditions today, coffee cultivation plays a completely different role. Natural resource economist Aske Skovmand Bosselmann will discuss coffee cultivation and how farmers worldwide are producing not only coffee beans, but also ecosystem services that benefit us all – particularly in relation to climate change, a central issue within sustainable coffee today. You will also gain insights into the latest research aimed at ensuring we can continue to enjoy coffee in a changing climate.

The lecture will also place our coffee consumption into a historical perspective. Indeed, the evolution of Danish coffee habits since its introduction to Denmark in 1665 has been remarkable. Diabetes and nutrition researcher Kjeld Hermansen will challenge the many claims surrounding how coffee affects the human body. One often hears statements such as: ‘You must be careful not to drink too much coffee’, ‘Coffee is unhealthy and can cause cancer and cardiovascular diseases’, and ‘Coffee can shorten your life’. Are these myths or facts? Kjeld Hermansen will explore how coffee influences mortality as well as major diseases like cancer, cardiovascular illnesses, neuropsychiatric disorders, and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, you will discover his research group's work in uncovering the mechanisms through which coffee affects the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

This is an updated version of a lecture from spring 2023."

The team at Naturcenter Tønnisgård on Rømø looks forward to welcoming you to an inspiring evening.