By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 21: Sarawak could position itself as the world’s leading Libex coffee-producing region following a groundbreaking study confirming its hybrid Liberica and Excelsa coffee as a rare, commercially valuable hybrid of global significance.
In a statement (May 14), a new research paper published in Scientific Reports under the Nature Portfolio has identified Sarawak coffee as a naturally occurring hybrid between Liberica and Excelsa, now formally proposed as Coffea × libex or “Libex coffee”.
“Sarawak has been identified as the region with the highest known concentration of Libex cultivation in the world. Of the 113 coffee accessions analysed from three continents using over 7,000 DNA markers (SNPs), 40 out of 45 Sarawak samples showed measurable Excelsa genetic contribution — a remarkable finding that repositions Sarawak from a peripheral case in coffee science to a globally significant one,” the statement said.
The study places Sarawak at the centre of global coffee science, with the State recorded as having the highest known concentration of Libex cultivation in the world.
The research was co-authored by Earthlings Coffee Workshop co-founder Dr Kenny Lee Wee Ting together with Dr Aaron P. Davis from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, analysing more than 7,000 DNA markers from 113 coffee samples collected across three continents.
Findings showed that a large majority of Sarawak samples carried measurable Excelsa genetic traits, confirming the widespread presence of the hybrid across the State.
The State government and industry players are now looking at scaling up coffee cultivation across Sarawak to strengthen its position in the global specialty coffee market.
The study also highlighted strong potential benefits of Libex coffee, including higher yields, better processing efficiency, improved climate adaptability, and resistance to coffee leaf rust disease.
It also produces a more balanced flavour profile that is increasingly sought after in international specialty markets.
Coffee cultivation in Sarawak is deeply rooted in indigenous communities, including the Bidayuh, Iban, Kenyah, Kayan, Saban and Kelabit.
Many of these communities have cultivated coffee for generations, mainly for local consumption in rural and interior areas.
Today, more than 700 smallholder households are involved in the Sarawak Liberica Refinement Project, alongside larger estates.
The research began in Sarawak’s rainforest interiors nearly a decade ago when researchers observed that “Liberica” coffee grown in the State showed clear differences from Liberica in Peninsular Malaysia.
Samples were later collected from remote farms and preserved for further analysis in international botanical institutions.
Dr Kenny said the research is important to ensure farmers understand what they are cultivating for long-term investment.
“If farmers are to invest the next 30 years cultivating these trees, how could we not know what they actually are?” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Aaron Davis from Kew Gardens spent nearly three years conducting fieldwork in Sarawak, including expeditions in the Upper Baram with support from local communities and research partners.
Sarawak’s Libex coffee has already entered specialty markets in Europe, China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and Thailand.
Global coffee chain Blue Bottle Coffee also visited Sarawak to explore new coffee origins, reflecting growing international interest in the State’s coffee sector.
With support from the Sarawak Department of Agriculture and research institutions, the State is now positioning itself as the world’s leading Libex coffee-producing region.
Collaborations are ongoing with the Agricultural Research Centre Semongok, Kew Gardens and international partners to further develop the industry statewide.
“For a long time, Liberica has occupied a marginal position in the global coffee industry — often misunderstood and under-researched,” Dr Kenny noted.
“Today, that narrative is beginning to change. Rather than viewing Liberica as a relic of the past, it can now be seen as a dynamic and evolving system with significant future potential — particularly in the context of climate change and the need for crop diversification. Sarawak is at the heart of this story.” — DayakDaily
