Nah it's buzz generated out of some research from some botanists. The species itself was mostly lost in the wild and no longer cultivated as a crop because it wasn't economical at the time -- samples in labs is something else entirely.

The spin that the media is putting on it is a bit weird, but as a person who breeds grapes and is a botanical geek, I'm used to seeing strange press distortions of these kinds of things.

My understanding is that this species is not a cheaper producer at all. While it grows in hotter climates it producers lower volume and is harder to pick. Its value will be in breeding. Probably hybridizing with arabica.