Tea is a significant global commodity, with an industry worth tens of billions of dollars and growing. However, its production—both in terms of quantity and quality—is highly sensitive to climate variations, particularly in the context of long-term human-induced global warming and its associated shorter-term impacts such as extreme weather events.
To tackle this challenge, a collaborative initiative between UK and Chinese scientists and tea industry stakeholders has been launched. This project, known as “Tea-CUP” (Co-developing Useful Predictions), aims to develop actionable climate information, or “climate services,” to inform adaptation measures and decision-making within the tea industry.
Recognizing the importance of this work, the journal’s editor, Professor Zong-Liang Yang from the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin, recommended the paper for the cover of the issue.
“This collaborative effort exemplifies the goals of climate science: delivering climate services that benefit society directly,” said Professor Yang…
