巴西如何成为「咖啡帝国」：从一束鲜花到全球最大产区

Core Viewpoint - The article explores the historical journey of coffee from its origins in Ethiopia to becoming a global commodity, particularly focusing on Brazil's rise as the largest coffee producer and exporter in the world. Group 1: Historical Context - Coffee's origins trace back to Ethiopia, where a shepherd discovered its energizing effects after observing his goats [4] - The spread of coffee began with Arab traders bringing it to Turkey and then to Europe, where it was cultivated in colonies [4] - Brazil's introduction to coffee occurred in the 18th century when a Brazilian official smuggled coffee seeds from French Guiana, leading to its eventual dominance in coffee production [4] Group 2: Economic Development - Initially, Brazil's economy was driven by sugarcane, which was a low-cost, high-profit crop until the sugar market collapsed in the early 19th century [5] - The decline in sugar prices led to a significant shift of capital and labor towards coffee cultivation, marking the beginning of Brazil's coffee boom [5] Group 3: Agricultural Practices - Early coffee cultivation in Brazil was characterized by aggressive land clearing and poor agricultural practices, leading to soil degradation [6] - The introduction of coffee farming in Brazil involved clearing vast areas of rainforest, which raised environmental concerns that persist today [6][8] Group 4: Labor Dynamics - The coffee industry in Brazil relied heavily on slave labor, with the number of imported slaves increasing significantly during the coffee boom [8] - After the abolition of slavery in 1888, Brazil began to attract European immigrants to fill labor shortages in coffee plantations, resulting in a fivefold increase in coffee exports in the following two decades [8] Group 5: Market Strategies - In 1906, Brazilian states implemented a "coffee valorization" policy to stabilize prices by controlling supply, but this strategy failed during the Great Depression [9] - The coffee industry has since transitioned to a more market-oriented approach, with industry associations focusing on quality standards and market information to enhance competitiveness [9]