Coffee and the environment

Is socially responsible coffee helping America take one sip towards a healthier environment? Changes in how coffee plants are grown have resulted in effects on the environment.

Introduction

It seems as though consuming a morning cup of coffee has always been a part of the routine of the average American. However, up until recently, citizens have not put a great deal of thought into where it is that their prized beverage has come from. Recently, coffee companies large and small have begun to take into account the United States’ love of specialized coffee, as well as its need to help the environment. Companies like Eco Organic Coffee (“Coffee with a conscience”, 1997) and Starbucks have begun to value the healthy growth of the coffee beans that they purchase. They look at whether or not they were, in fact, raised in an environmentally-friendly manner, such as through sun farms rather than shade farms (Anonymous, 2008). This socially responsible coffee can be found in forty countries, with leading locations like Peru, Ethiopia, and Mexico (“Facts about organic,” 2008). In order to fully understand the goal of the coffee companies’ production of socially responsible coffee, it is first necessary to look at the positive and negative effects of differing types of coffee growth, as well as ways to continue the growth of environmentally friendly coffee beans.

Coffee Companies and the Environment

First and foremost, coffee companies have always focused on satisfying the consumers. Therefore, when the Starbucks’ chairman, president, and CEO, Howard Schultz, decided to introduce an environmentally friendly brand of coffee on April 22, he looked into 27 years of input from over 1,000 customers. Starbucks decided to utilize hand-scooped, freshly ground, flawlessly brewed coffee in their newest product: Pike Roast Place. In addition to being flavorful, this coffee would protect the environment, help with Starbuck’s relationship with Conservation International, and help to develop relationships with farmers, workers, and communities through free trade (Anonymous, 2008). “’We’re here so that coffee farms and farmers – and the environment – will thrive in the long term,’ Peter Torrebiarte, director of the Starbucks Costa Rican Farmer Support Center’” (Anonymous, 2008, p. 778). Similarly, the Eco-Organic Coffee Company wanted to take advantage of the United States’ growing want to go green by creating what the Smithsonian’s Migratory Bird Center and Quality Insurance International calls the first shade-grown coffee on the market: Café Audubon (“Coffee with a conscience”, 1997). As companies, such as Starbucks and the Eco-Organic Coffee Company, continue to better their products, it is necessary for American’s to fully understand the impacts of the coffee-related products on the environment.

hade-grown Coffee Farms

Traditionally coffee plants were grown under the shade of trees, which provided natural habitat for many animals and insects, roughly approximating the biodiversity of a natural forest [1] . The trees provided a moderate climate for the plants, and leaves that dropped from the shade trees enriched the soil. Farmers also used compost coffee pulp before chemical fertilizers were available. They typically rotated crops and cultivated food alongside their cash crops, which provided additional income and food security. [citation needed]

In understanding the benefits of this shade-grown coffee, it is first necessary to understand its many types. Rustic farms are typically small, family farms, with little alternation to the original forests. There is typically 70 to 100 percent shade cover. Traditional polyculture includes a mixture of the native trees and planted trees with 60 to 90 percent shade cover. Commericial polyculture, with 30 to 60 percent shade covering, has even more trees removed to increase the number of coffee plants. Finally, shaded monoculture includes dense plantings of coffee beneath merely 10 to 30 percent of shade covering. While rustic farms are the most natural, each of these shade farms is more environmentally friendly than the typical sun farm, which provides nearly no shade covering at all (“What is shade,” 2007). With regards to work conditions, the shade helps farmers to avoid the high temperatures and humidity. Additionally, shade farms help to harbor diversity, prevent soil erosion, isolate carbon, and even save forests (Blackman, Avalos-Sartorio, & Chow, 2007).

Along with the other multitudinous benefits of shade farms, if the destruction of forests can be prevented, many organisms will be able to turn coffee trees into their humble homes, where they can both live and reproduce. Coffee trees provide a home for a variety of types of birds. In a study done on bird populations found in Central Guatemala, multiple shade and sun-grown coffee farms were studied to determine the species of birds present in different habitats. It was concluded that shade-farms provide a habitat for woodland residents and migrants that sun-farms are not capable of making available. More species of birds have a tendency to migrate towards the diversely planted canopy trees, since the multitude of types resembled the many trees in their natural forest habitat (“Coffee with a conscience”, 1997). “The loss of the shade trees on such a large scale…caused an estimated 20% decline in migratory bird populations in the last ten years, due to habitat loss” (“Shade Grown Coffee,” 2008). Shade-grown coffee plantation habitats are necessary for the survival of many birds restricted to forest habitats, especially as the international destruction of natural forests increases. For instance, redstarts, black-throated green warblers, yellow-throated, and solitary vireos depend on shade-grown coffee farms (“Migrants and Coffee,” 2008).

un-Grown Coffee Farms

However, in the 1970s and 1980s, during the "Green Revolution," the US Agency for International Development and other groups gave $80 million to plantations in Latin America for advancements to go along with the general shift to technified agriculture. [citation needed] These plantations replaced their shade grown techniques with sun cultivation techniques to increase yields, which in turn destroyed vast forests and biodiversity. In addition, the decline of coffee prices and the expansion of cities caused many farms in Central America to be destroyed and replaced by urban buildings and conventional farming. In this region, less than 20 percent of the country’s forests still remain. This causes a loss of organisms and many cases of soil erosion. Sun cultivation involves cutting down trees, and high inputs of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Environmental problems, such as deforestation, pesticide pollution, habitat destruction, soil and water degradation, are the effects of most modern coffee farms, and the biodiversity on the coffee farm and in the surrounding areas suffer [1] . According to “Coffee with a conscience,” in the past 20 years, “30 to 40 percent of the plantations in northern Latin America alone have been converted to sun farms” (1997, p. 51). Unless problems regarding farm investment and yields, debt, poverty, urbanization, migration, and weak land use regulations can be addressed, shade-farms will soon cease to exist, along with the socially responsible coffee that they so generously produce (Blackman, Avalos-Sartorio, & Chow, 2007).While many Americans are aware of the fact that certain coffee products impact the environment in more positive ways than others, many are unaware of the detrimental effects of sun-grown coffee on the environment. Sun-grown coffee farms require fertilizers, pesticides, and other harmful chemicals to protect the coffee beans from the sun’s brutal rays (Anonymous, 2008). The combination of these substances has harmed the air, the water, and the habitats of many birds (“Coffee with a conscience”, 1997, p. 51). In addition, the lack of underbrush has caused an erosion of hills, hence the destruction of many species’ habitats (Anonymous, 2008). Prior to 1972, sun farms were not in existence. However, as is classic of America, someone found a way to increase the production of a crop that was found to be highly valuable. Coffee beans became smaller and easier to harvest. Unfortunately, these new beans had to be grown in direct sunlight. Along with this new trend, came the devastating effects of sun farms on the environment and its species (“Shade Grown Coffee,” 2008). While the American government knows the effects of sun-farms, they seem incredibly preoccupied with the speed with which they produce coffee, as opposed to the results. For instance, the United States government handed over $80 million to Latin America to update their coffee growing practices with pesticides and fertilizers (Hudson and Hudson, 2004). It seems apparent that something must be done about these sun farms to prevent their devastating effects on the depleting environment. The solution is simple: the use of shade-grown coffee plantations.

Water: Another Coffee Issue

Another issue concerning coffee is its use of water. According to New Scientist, it takes about 140 litres of water to produce one cup of coffee, and the coffee is often grown in countries where there is a water shortage, like Ethiopia. [2]

Conclusion

While companies like Starbucks and Eco Organic Coffee have been working to support socially responsible coffee, America, as a whole, must become involved if it wants to save this coffee industry (Hudson & Hudson, 2004). America has begun to recognize that problems like farm investment, debt, and poverty relate to those working on the plantations (Blackman, Avalos-Sartorio, & Chow, 2007). Coffee farmers tend to be subject to long days in the heat, with poor working conditions and little money. According to Mark and Ian Hudson, “A recent study by the Guatemalan Commission for the Verification of Corporate Codes of Conduct found half the workers on fincas in that country earning less than $3 per day for picking 100 pounds of coffee” (2004, p. 13). Therefore, the “fair-trade” option was developed to give $1.26 or more per pound of coffee to the workers. This does not seem like a great deal of money, but it is a start in helping the workers in Central America provide for themselves and for their families. Since shade-grown coffee requires more human-labor than sun-grown, America is saving the environmentally friendly coffee in using free-trade to take care of the workers, thus continuing shade-grown coffee production (Hudson & Hudson, 2004).Through fair-trade and the support of companies like Starbucks and Eco Organic Coffee, America might just be able to save environmentally friendly coffee through shade-coffee farms, as well as heighten its use in the United States. There has been a return to both traditional and new methods of growing shade-tolerant varieties. [citation needed] Shade-grown coffee can often earn a premium as a more environmentally sustainable alternative to mainstream sun-grown coffee. After all, coffee is not only considered a necessity in the life of many Americans, but “is the world’s second most valuable market commodity after petroleum” (Hudson & Hudson, 2004, p. 13). Since the United States is responsible for the purchase of 25% of the coffee beans found in the local market, it seems that they should also be responsible for how their imported product is affecting the ever-changing environment (Hudson & Hudson, 2004). In order to do this, it is first necessary to look at the positive and negative effects of differing types of coffee growth, as well as ways to continue the growth of environmentally friendly coffee beans.

References

*Anonymous. (2008, April 21). Starbucks coffee company; The proof is in the cup: Starbucks launches historic new pike place roast. Energy & Ecology, 778. Retrieved September 20, 2008, from ProQuest database: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=3&did=1543695781&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1222789289&clientId=15031Blackman, A., Avalos-Sartorio, B., & Chow, J. (2007, September). Shade coffee and tree cover loss: Lessons from El Salvador. Environment, 49(7), 22-32. Retrieved September 20, 2008, from ProQuest database: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=1364053541&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1222789623&clientId=15031
*Coffee with a conscience. (n.d.). Environment, 39(9), 50-51. Retrieved September 20, 2008, from EBSCOhost database: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=6&hid=7&sid=c2ae5ed3-414d-4b3f-b959-34d312b681ef%40sessionmgr7&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#%23db=aph&AN=9711074152Facts about organic coffee. (2008). Organic trade association. Retrieved September 30, 2008, from http://www.ota.com/organic_and_you/coffee_collaboration/facts.html
*Greenberg, R., Bichier, P., Angon, A. C., & Reitsma, R. (1997, April). Bird populations in shade and sun coffee plantations in central guatemala. Conservation Biology, 11(2), 448-459. Retrieved September 21, 2008, from EBSCOHost database: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=9&sid=562684ca-b825-4578-9cc0-e76f3b57c3c8%40sessionmgr9&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=8gh&AN=8172574
*Hudson, M., & Hudson, I. (2004). Justice, sustainability, and the fair trade movement: A case study of coffee production in Chiapas. Social Justice, 31(3), 130-146. Retrieved September 21, 2008, from EBSCOhost database: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=8&hid=9&sid=562684ca-b825-4578-9cc0-e76f3b57c3c8%40sessionmgr9&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=15894221
*Shade grown coffee. (2008). Earth easy. Retrieved September 30, 2008, from http://www.eartheasy.com/eat_shadegrown_coffee.htmSmithsonian: National Zooloical Park. (2008). Why migratory birds are crazy for coffee. Retrieved September 30, 2008, from http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Fact_Sheets/default.cfm?fxsht=1
*What is shade grown coffee? (2007). Coffee and conservation: Are your beans for the birds? Retrieved September 30, 2008, from Coffee habitat Web site: http://www.coffeehabitat.com/2006/02/what_is_shade_g.html

External links

* [http://www.coffeehabitat.com/ Coffee & Conservation] - Web site devoted to sustainable coffee issues, focusing on the environment and biodiversity.
* [http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Coffee/ Bird-Friendly Coffee] - Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center's trademarked shade coffee certification web site.
* [http://www.birdwatching-bliss.com/bird-friendly-coffee.html Bird Friendly Coffee] - Sun grown vs. shade grown coffee information from BirdWatching-Bliss.com web site.
* [http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/1290/basics.html Coffee Contact] - forum for issues concerning coffee production, growers’ cooperatives, and the certification and marketing of sustainable coffees.
* [http://www.coffeehabitat.com/2006/02/the_problems_wi.html Problems with "sun" coffee] - Brief summary of the environmental issues of modern coffee production, with links to in-depth reports.
* [http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/policy/agriculture_environment/commodities/coffee/environmental_impacts/index.cfm Agriculture and Environment: Coffee] - Summary of effects of modern coffee farming on habitat and biodiversity by the World Wildlife Fund.
* [http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Coffee/criteria.cfm Criteria for shade management for Smithsonian "Bird-Friendly" coffee certification]
* [http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Coffee/Farms/ Current list of farms with Smithsonian "Bird-Friendly" coffee certification]
* [http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/agriculture.cfm?id=standards Page with links to standards used by Rainforest Alliance for sustainable agriculture certification]
* [http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/agriculture.cfm?id=certified_farms Page with links to current lists of farms with Rainforest Alliance certification]
* [http://www.coffeehabitat.com/2008/07/what-is-the-market-share-of-certified-coffees.html What is the market share of eco-certified coffees?] - Market share of eco-certified coffees as of 2006/2007 with links to references and industry sources.