This study found that climate change will significantly impact the suitable growing areas for coffee, cashew, and avocado by 2050. Coffee is projected to be the most vulnerable, with substantial reductions in suitable areas, while both cashew and avocado might see global expansions. However, even cashew and avocado face localized reductions in optimal growing areas. The study highlights the importance of climate adaptation strategies, including varietal selection, improved management, and potential shifts in production regions.

This study was funded by the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture. While the authors state the funders helped select crops to model, they were otherwise not involved in the study design, data collection, analysis, or publication decisions. Syngenta's involvement could be considered a potential conflict of interest given its stake in agricultural products, though no direct influence on the research process was identified by the authors.

This study presents a valuable global assessment of coffee, cashew, and avocado suitability, considering both climate and soil factors. It also provides insights into potential climate change impacts. While the methodology has some limitations (coarse resolution, lack of management adaptations, limited climate change parameters), the overall analysis is robust, comprehensive, and relevant. The transparent approach of multi-criteria evaluation is well-suited for identifying limiting factors and adds substantial value to the existing literature.