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CommonConfusables t1_iuwq9ey wrote

Isn’t there currently a coffee shortage and growing issues due to environmental and single product growing practices?

It is a shade grown plant that we force to grow in the sun for production.

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FlaminCat t1_iuwtpof wrote

It uses coffee waste though

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CommonConfusables t1_iuwxyeo wrote

So you still need to grow coffee for that, and divert the waste somehow.

But also not all coffee waste will be usable.

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jamanimals t1_iux78ar wrote

Not to mention, if it's valuable enough, there will probably be coffee production specifically to produce biodiesel that never gets made into consumer coffee. Similar to the vast amount of corn grown strictly for ethanol production.

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I_am_Erk t1_iuxggha wrote

I suspect coffee was chosen because there are a lot of wasted coffee grounds. There likely isn't anything specifically about coffee that is needed here, you could probably use any number of similar substrates that are cheaper to grow

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jamanimals t1_iuxgy27 wrote

Oh, I agree, but even corn for ethanol was only supposed to be using waste products and not corn grown for ethanol, but once you give the industry an inch to grab onto, they'll take all they can get.

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I_am_Erk t1_iuxhknh wrote

Very true. The issue there isn't the tech, it's the economic system....

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turquoise_amethyst t1_iux2bjh wrote

Hmm, wonder if we could feed the algae something else, which is more sustainable? Maybe something that grows easily in the Americas?

I’m thinking something like hemp or Yaupon Holly (up to six times the caffeine content of coffee!) but I don’t know how quickly they grow

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gummo_for_prez t1_iuxcw4f wrote

Damn where could I get my hands on a cup of Yaupon Holly?

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turquoise_amethyst t1_iv0epud wrote

You can find it at health food stores, although I’ve seen it at major chains like HEB and Whole Foods in Texas

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