We are aware of the importance of natural resources and biodiversity for sustainability of the coffee production chain and therefore Colombian coffee farmer families’ well-being. That’s why the Environmental Program is a crucial part of our value strategy. To contribute to their well-being, they need sustainable and productive production systems that are resilient to climate variability, but also designed and managed to be productive. Recovery, conservation and protection of natural resources, reduced impact of coffee farming on ecosystems, and lower impact of climate variability on coffee production are all needed.
To achieve this, we have developed an integrated river basin management strategy to combine coffee crops with agroforestry arrangements, forest plantations and hedges.
This is complemented by implementing a management and planning approach that favors conservation and care of native forests and river basins, connectivity of biodiversity habitats in coffee regions, and sustainable production practices that help reduce water use and pollution, make rational use of agrochemicals, reduce organic and inorganic waste, and conserve soil.
Through these actions, we have proved that it is possible to produce coffee in a sustainable way and in harmony with natural resources, while contributing to well-being of coffee farmers and sustainability of ecosystems.
Developed since 2005 through a public-private partnership of the FNC with the German government (via KfW) and the Colombian government (through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), as of mid-2020 the program has impacted 8,339 coffee growers in 59 municipalities of 8 coffee departments.