{"id":2816,"date":"2026-04-07T23:00:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T23:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/the-coffee-ledger.local\/?p=2816"},"modified":"2026-04-07T23:00:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T23:00:02","slug":"how-much-of-an-impact-does-coffee-production-really-have-on-biodiversity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecoffeeledger.co.ke\/?p=2816","title":{"rendered":"How much of an impact does coffee production really have on biodiversity?"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to the World Resources Institute, Earth lost 3.7 million ha of tropical primary forest land in 2023, which it says is the equivalent of\u00a0losing almost ten football fields of forest per minute<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On top of emitting 2.4 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, equal to almost half of the US\u2019 annual fossil fuel emissions, this level of deforestation is accelerating biodiversity loss at rates never before seen.\u00a0Natural wilderness (not modified by humans) decreased from 66% in 1937 to 35% in 2020<\/a>, and\u00a0the world\u2019s current species extinction rate is estimated by the WWF to be between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than in pre-industrial times<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Coffee is a key plant in tropical landscapes, but deforestation has been inherent in the supply chain with a historic lack of regulation \u2013 prior to\u00a0the European Union Deforestation Regulations confirmed for December 2025<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 and market incentives for high farm productivity.<\/p>\n

Ecosystems in crisis also equate to economic turmoil. Nearly\u00a0half of the world\u2019s population lives in households linked to agrifood systems<\/a>, meaning coffee producers can\u2019t escape the impact of market volatility caused by climatic pressures. In early February 2025,\u00a0coffee prices reached historic highs<\/a>\u00a0following global supply shortages and droughts in Brazil \u2013 which produces most of the world\u2019s coffee in major biodiversity hotspots.<\/p>\n

I spoke to several people at nature-positive direct trade company\u00a0Curu Coffee<\/a>, which offers technical and financial support to smallholders, to find out why safeguarding biodiversity is essential to a sustainable future for coffee.<\/p>\n

The dangers of biodiversity loss<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Conservation International describes biodiversity as \u201cthe variety and variability of life on Earth\u201d. One of the biggest threats to biodiversity is monoculture farming.<\/p>\n

Although producing one type of crop on a single farm can improve operational efficiency, research indicates that\u00a0microclimates and crop yields are more unpredictable on monoculture farms<\/a>. The risk of disease and pest outbreaks increases due to the lack of other plant and animal species that often limit the spread. The availability of certain nutrients also diminishes in the soil, impacting yields and quality and having devastating consequences for farmers.<\/p>\n

\u201cProducers who think they can predict how much coffee they will harvest are increasingly mistaken,\u201d says Neuton Caio Quintino Souza da Silva, a coffee farmer in Brazil. \u201cA dry spell might hit when we\u2019re expecting rain, and increasingly unreliable weather is creating more unreliable harvests.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rising temperatures make it harder to forecast production volumes, especially on full-sun farms. The exposed soil dries quicker and loses its nutrient content faster, requiring more fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, which\u00a0have become increasingly costly<\/a>\u00a0and can pollute the surrounding environment.<\/p>\n

Why deforestation is a key issue<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In countries like Brazil, the world\u2019s top coffee producer, full-sun coffee production is the dominant method. The open, uncovered farmland means producers often use mechanised harvesters, especially on larger plantations, reducing labour costs and speeding up operations. This incentivises some producers to invest in full-sun production in the long term, but profitability is often short-lived.<\/p>\n

\u201cProduction rates are falling, and global demand is increasing, driving deforestation to create space to grow more coffee,\u201d says Abigail Baumhardt, the founder of\u00a0Curu Coffee<\/a>, which partners with smallholder coffee producers to integrate native trees into their farms. \u201cForest loss worsens climate change and biodiversity loss, creating a vicious cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deforestation is another contributing factor to the exacerbation of climate change and the rapid decrease in biodiversity. Historically present in the coffee supply chain, more action has been taken to tackle the problem, most notably the EUDR.\u00a0After a confirmed one-year delay<\/a>, coffee businesses exporting into the EU will need to prove that their supply chains are deforestation-free from December 2025 onwards.<\/p>\n

Some saw the approved delay as a blow to the EU\u2019s green efforts, while others welcomed the extra time to comply with the first-of-its-kind legislation. Either way, the extension reduces the sense of immediacy to tackle a growing problem.<\/p>\n

Agroforestry can be a solution<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There can be a more positive relationship between coffee production and the local ecosystem, with both supporting each other\u2019s longevity. Crop yields are more reliable on shaded coffee farms, especially during drought periods, and pest and disease outbreaks are less common.<\/p>\n

\u201cNatural predators living in trees and plants control pests, meaning producers don\u2019t need to rely solely on artificial methods,\u201d says Brazilian coffee grower Geraldo Pereira Ramos. In the 25 years that Geraldo has been planting native trees on his farm, which includes 30% shade coverage, he has seen suitable coffee-growing land recede further uphill every year.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, we\u2019re growing at an altitude of over 1,000 MASL (metres above sea level.) This altitude was considered unsuitable for coffee farming thirty years ago,\u201d he adds. \u201cBut now, coffee grows better at higher elevations because of climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n

The climate crisis is already impacting producers the world over and is poised to exacerbate already worsening conditions.\u00a0By 2050, the amount of land available to grow high-quality arabica is estimated to halve<\/a>, threatening the future of the industry as we know it.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlanting trees on farms can help coffee plants and the climate. Make those trees diverse and native, and then coffee agriculture will help biodiversity and ecosystems and create habitats in the soil and the sky,\u201d Abigail says.<\/p>\n

Most certification bodies, including Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade, only suggest incorporating native tree species. But by implementing agroforestry systems \u2013 where trees and shrubs are integrated into coffee farming \u2013 many of the aforementioned challenges can be addressed.<\/p>\n

By reducing sun exposure, shade trees can:<\/p>\n