Small-scale coffee farms in Latin America are on average more environmentally friendly than large-scale plantations, new Fairtrade research has revealed.
However, large plantations, which often produce coffee using unshaded monoculture, mechanisation and chemical inputs, are in a better position to quickly respond to market and legislative changes.
The Fairtrade study, Understanding the Climate and Environmental Impacts of Smallholder Coffee Farming, investigated existing academic and sectoral literature regarding the environmental sustainability of small-scale coffee production in five Latin American countries – Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua, and Honduras - and compared findings with large-scale production.
These practices, requiring fewer resources, contribute to carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and climate resilience. When combined with certifications such as organic or Fairtrade, these methods also enhance food security and climate adaptation.
Dr. CJ Stanton of the Fairtrade Foundation empha
sizes the significance of these practices in a coffee industry valued at over $100 billion, supporting 125 million livelihoods. However, the sector faces challenges like market volatility and climate change, which threaten coffee production.
A study examining coffee’s environmental impact identified water, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and biodiversity as key areas of concern. Smallholders, particularly in Colombia, Nicaragua, and Honduras, use less energy due to lower mechanization, and their shaded agroforestry systems support greater biodiversity compared to larger plantations.
Source: Oman News Agency
