Organic coffee

Over 900 species of insect have been recorded as pests of coffee crops worldwide. Of these, over a third are beetles, and over a quarter are bugs. Some 20 species of nematodes, 9 species of mites, several snails and slugs also attack the crop. Birds and rodents sometimes eat coffee berries but their impact is minor compared to invertebrates.

In general, arabica is the more sensitive species to invertebrate predation overall. Each part of the coffee plant is assailed by different animals. Nematodes attack the roots, and borer beetles burrow into stems and woody material, the foliage is attacked by over 100 species of larvae (caterpillars) of butterflies and moths.

Since the 1970s, in an effort to raise production volumes, coffee growers have increasingly adopted higher yielding hybrid plant varieties that grow better under the open sun. In addition to requiring massive deforestation of the diverse shade trees that grow over traditional farms, these modernized hybrids also require heavier use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides

Sun plantations typically experience greater run-off and nutrient leaching and remain productive for only one third to one half as long as comparable shaded plantations.
Increased soil erosion is caused by human disturbance occurs more routinely in sun plantations.
Sun plants age more rapidly than shade grown stock, must be replaced more often, and are not economically viable when output and/or price falls below a fairly high threshold.
The combination of deforestation, soil erosion, habitat loss, wildlife elimination, and agricultural chemical pollution is creating a devastating impact on the environment

Shade Grown Coffee – naturally the best way

Coffee traditionally is a shade grown crop, and as such relies on natures predators to keep crops pest free. Falling leaves and other natural matter fertilise the soil. The benefits to that local ecology out ways the lower yields produced by growing coffee under shade.

The shade that the coffee crop grows under often includes fruit trees that supplement income and provide food. The wood from the trees provide building materials. Over story trees protect the relatively sensitive coffee bush from harsh wind, excessive light and soil erosion, they buffer temperature and humidity.

Predation poses little threat to covered coffee, and nutrient deficiency is seldom a problem, so there less need for the use of the pesticides and fertilizers needed on full sun crops, furthermore, shaded plantations support biodiversity comparable to that in some rain forests.

Many countries rely on coffee as the cornerstone of their economies, so, low demand or prices can devastate those economies and the poorest farmers suffer. Averting such a disaster requires a diversified farm economy. Shade trees can offer those additional crops.

When pesticides, herbicides, fungicides chemical fertilisers are not used, this is referred to by many in the developed world as being organic. These crops though are not legally recognised as organic, unless they gain organic certification.

Very little of the worlds coffee is actually certified organic. The process to gain organic certification is very costly to implement. It can cost a farmer up to $30,000 to become certified, and take up to 3 years. During the switch over period harvests can drop by up to 50%, so becoming Organic certified is a huge investment of time and finances.

Coffee has always been grown using organic farming methods, especially in poorer countries like Yemen & Ethiopia where farmers can’t afford expensive agro-chemicals; neither can they afford the costly process of becoming certified organic.