Row brewing over decaf coffee plant

TSEGAYE TADESSE IN ADDIS ABABA

A BRAZILIAN scientist’s discovery of naturally decaffeinated coffee plants in Ethiopia has landed him in trouble with Ethiopian authorities which yesterday suggested he may have taken the bushes without permission.

The discovery was disclosed last week by Paulo Mazzafera, of the Universidade Estadual de Campinas in Brazil, in the science journal Nature.

The decaf arabica plant has not been grown commercially and Mr Mazzafera did not know how productive it would be, but if it were commercially productive, naturally decaffeinated coffee could be on the market in five or six years.

"While we hail the discovery that a caffeine-free coffee plant existed in Ethiopia, the arrogance of the scientist to herald [this] to the world without the knowledge of Ethiopian authorities is unprofessional and unfair," said Hailue Hiwot, president of the Ethiopian Coffee Exporters Association (ECEA). "The ownership of the plant is Ethiopian. The scientist should have informed Ethiopian authorities first before making any such announcement, as if it belongs to Brazil."

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