Tea....

TEA

We don't eat it. We certainly don't need it to survive. So why is tea so important?

Well, its hugely popular with consumers. According to figures from the International Tea Committee, the global consumption of tea jump 60% between 1993 and 2010 and significant growth is forecast as more people become consumers of tea. It also has an acinet heritage, dating back 5000 years, revealing a rich cultural history.

Today, it is the economic and social importance of tea production that is so significant. Currently grown in 35 countries, the tea industry provides a vital source of employment and export earning, often in some of the world's poorest countries.

 And a vast chain or network of people have a relationship with tea - not just the consumers, but the growers, pickers, suppliers, traders and sellers - impacting the lives and well being of millions of people across the world

However, the future of this much-loved beverage is uncertain. The tea industry faces unprecedented challenges; a shift in consumer demand and habit, a changing climate, resource constraints and mechanization of farming are converging to put pressure on an industry which recognizes it needs to act if it is to create a sustainable future.

An extract from:
Executive summary : The Future of Tea : A Hero Crop for 2030 / Forum For The Future.