Getting a fresh cup of coffee is about to become more expensive.  The reason: The worst drought in 200 years has hit Brazil and coffee production is about to plummit by 17 percent.  Can anything be done to mitigate such acts of nature?  Well, the answer is yes, according to the Competitive Enterprise Institute, which notes that new research in biotechnology may soon be able to produce drought resistant crops like coffee.   Indeed, plant biologists have identified genes that regulate water use in plants, and by enhancing a plant’s salt tolerance can create new varieties that can subsist on little or even brackish water.  Irrational fears continue to hamper biotech use, but at least there’s a aroma of new hope for coffee growers everywhere.