Grown almost entirely without pesticides in small village gardens, PNG coffee is cherished by aficionados around the world for its delicate fruity ‘winey’ and smooth caramel aftertaste. Ian Neubauer looks at how the coffee bean is processed for its major markets in Australia and Europe.
Coffee is one of Papua New Guinea’s major agricultural commodities, with exports worth 927 million kina (US$433 million) in 2011—a huge increase on 2010. Two varieties are grown: robusta in the coastal areas and arabica in the Highlands.
Papua New Guinea’s agricultural sector has a number of competitive advantages, including high seasonal rainfall, good quality soil and low-intensity methods. The absence of pesticides and artificial fertilisers presents opportunities for PNG to position itself as a leading organic producer.
Papua New Guinea’s produce and products continue to find new markets overseas.