Coffee as an important trade commodity in the world continues to grow every year. This commodity has a close relationship with the economy and welfare of coffee farmers and coffee-based industries. Coffee plantations that develop in Indonesia are generally managed by the state as well as private plantations and smallholders estates. Coffee cultivation is carried out in an agroforestry system, with growing areas of forest or close to forests, so that this coffee plant also supports ecosystems and Biodiversity Conservation. East Java is one of the coffee production areas in Indonesia, one of the coffee plantations known in the community, namely coffee plantations in the Banyuwangi Ijen Geopark area, with Kalipuro District as one of the areas that have high coffee productivity. Coffee is cultivated Kalipuro District community one of them is coffee Liberica (Coffea liberica), species commonly found in the area around the forest but not widely cultivated as Arabica or Robusta coffee. But behind the coffee fruit cherries, Liberica coffee beans store the potential to be developed because it can be improved quality and has a unique flavor. Not only that, liberika coffee has a large share as a carbon sink so that it has high environmental services.
This encourages the academic community of Universitas Brawijaya from the Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP) and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences to collaborate in exploring Liberica coffee in Kalipuro, Banyuwangi. The exploration team was chaired by Wenny Bekti Sunarharum, STP, M.Foodsett., Ph.D.(FTP), and Prof. Luchman Hakim, S.Si., M.Agr.Sc., Ph.D (FMIPA), Tunjung Mahatmanto, STP, M.Si, PhD (FTP) and yoga Dwi Jatmiko, S.Si., M.App.Sc., Ph.D (FMIPA). With a concern for local commodities alongside conservation efforts, UB students who are members of the exploration team surveyed liberica coffee plantations to obtain various physical and biotic data that can contribute to the quality of coffee produced. The test results using the SCA cupping test method showed that Liberica coffee from the garden sampled gives a flavor score in the very good quality range (between 70-80). This score can be increased again, of course, so that the taste of Liberica coffee becomes better and can show the uniqueness of its character.
This research will also conduct metagenome studies to identify microbes in liberica coffee cherries in the hope that they can be used for processing and improving the quality of coffee produced.
Liberika coffee which is generally grown in agroforestry systems has a huge potential to be developed. Liberica coffee has a characteristic jackfruit flavor with a tall tree and wide leaves. This coffee is a type of coffee that has not been widely cultivated or explored, such as Arabica and Robusta coffee. However, Liberika coffee has the potential to be developed both in terms of flavor, tourism support, and conservation development. Liberica coffee can provide a distinctive coffee flavor and many services to the environment by absorbing carbon from the air, while also having the advantage of resistance to pests and diseases and climate change. Various benefits derived from liberica coffee shows the potential of its development in the concept of coffee sustainability. This coffee can be preserved and support the agroforestry system, supporting Banyuwangi regional excellence and helping to support the economy and welfare of the surrounding community.