Full-Sun Coffee Farms Hurting the Environment
 Full-Sun Coffee Farm | The coffee industry continues to be less and less sustainable, despite the efforts of so many. As consumers drink more coffee, the situation gets worse. The biggest problem are full-sun farms. These destroy forests, and hurt the environment in several ways. They disturb habitats of animals, they require more chemicals per plant to maintain them, hurt soil health, create erosion problems, and the loss of trees hurts the CO2 cycle even more. |
We here at Coffees.com would like to see Starbucks, Kraft, Nestle, and the other large coffee companies take a stand, and do whats right. The simplest thing all of us can do is vote wit your money: buy only shade-grown coffee. We feel strongly about the importance of biodiversity, and about protecting the environment for future generations. We talk about about this at our climate site, ManMadeClimateChange.com.
In a new study published in BioScience, coffee farms are more hurtful than ever. In contrast, a well-run shade grown coffee farm makes a forest even healthier; almost like a rain forest. The worst offenders are Brasil and Vietnam, where 75% of coffee production is not grown under tree cover. These full-sun coffees are often the lower-quality Robusta variety, used in instant coffees and the big can 'store' coffees you see in the supermarket.
In a new study published in BioScience, coffee farms are more hurtful than ever. In contrast, a well-run shade grown coffee farm makes a forest even healthier; almost like a rain forest. The worst offenders are Brasil and Vietnam, where 75% of coffee production is not grown under tree cover. These full-sun coffees are often the lower-quality Robusta variety, used in instant coffees and the big can 'store' coffees you see in the supermarket.
Partial Shade Grown Coffee Shade grown coffee can be done in full-shade or partial shade; the study found that from 1996 to 2010, the percentage of coffee grown in some level of shade fell from 43% to 24%. It is likely to be falling even further. It is one more example of how overpopulation and the need for mass production hurts the environment; which ultimately hurts us.
While the market for Shade Grown coffee has grown, the overall coffee market has grown faster at the low-end of the market.
In full sun farming, you do not have the benefits of insect-eating birds and bats, so you have to apply more insecticides. And you don't have the soil benefits from tree leaves composting so you have to apply more fertilizers. You also lose topsoil, you contaminate waterways with all the additional chemical use, and become more vulnerable to bad weather (which is rather ironic).
Some people believe that full-sun coffee does not taste as good either.
While the market for Shade Grown coffee has grown, the overall coffee market has grown faster at the low-end of the market.
In full sun farming, you do not have the benefits of insect-eating birds and bats, so you have to apply more insecticides. And you don't have the soil benefits from tree leaves composting so you have to apply more fertilizers. You also lose topsoil, you contaminate waterways with all the additional chemical use, and become more vulnerable to bad weather (which is rather ironic).
Some people believe that full-sun coffee does not taste as good either.
If you buy Organic coffee it can help; and Fair Trade helps the wage of farmers. But to really help protect biodiversity and the environment, you need to get Shade Grown Coffees. Some certifications include the Rainforest Alliance, and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center:
Full Shade Production Farm
By buying Shade Grown coffees, you are telling coffee companies that you care about the environment and about Biodiversity. If you have any questions please Contact Us; or comment below (open this article by clicking on the article main title, then you will see the comment area).
You can find out more about the various Coffee Certifications to choose the best way for you to support the causes that interest you.
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