Small coffee producers and adaptive options for a changing climate: the risks and challenges of certification for ecosystem services (SGP-CRA 2060)
1) Coffee producer learning how to operate a weather station in a coffee plantation at Honduras (Photo: Oscar Gonzalez 2012) 2) Coffee plant infested with coffee leaf rust in Guatemala (Photo: Diego Pons 2012) 3) High defoliation on coffee plantation due to pest infestation (Photo: Diego Pons 2012)
Project information
Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
This project follows the research started in CRN 2060, with the same title.
Executive summary
Project description
Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica are among the fifteen largest coffee exporters in the world, and in the region hundreds of thousands of small farmers depend on some aspect of the coffee industry for their livelihood. As climate change impacts on the environment have become more apparent for farmers, it has become increasingly important for researchers to supplement socioeconomic research with in-depth biophysical studies. In our research, we aim for a better understanding of the role of certification seals, fair trade programs and organic production. These mechanisms may increase coffee growers’ income, but much is uncertain as to how compliance with new rules and practices impacts growers’ livelihoods, adaptive capacity, and the environment.
Goals
- Determine the balance of potential costs and benefits associated with implementing different types of certifications and the implications for the livelihoods and production of small farmers, whether organized or unorganized.
- Study the environmental changes that are achieved on the farms where coffee is grown under these standards of production.
- Understand the influence of these new standards on local microclimate regulation in view of possible climate change.
- Relate potential future climate changes with variation in the productivity of plantations.
Some results
- We have developed several research protocols to be tested in the field.
- Four weather stations have been located in areas where coffee pests have become critical for coffee growers; these stations are currently collecting data.
- We conducted an analysis of the status of certification labels among the coffee producers of the region together with Rainforest Alliance to determine whether to work with certification labels or practices.
- We have selected a sample of certified and non-certified coffee producers who are willing to participate in the research.
Outreach
The challenge of using scientific information for decision making: experiences of the project on Global changes and coffee in Mesoamerica (PDF in English) presentation by Edwin Castellanos at (UNFCCC CoP21 side event FROM SCIENCE TO POLICY: Contributions from science to the management of water resources, biodiversity and climate change on 30 November 2015)
Policy brief on Global changes and coffee: Adaptation options for small coffee producers in a changing climate. The challenges of certification for ecosystem services (in 
Progress report (May 2013)en español e English
Project investigators
Principal investigator and lead agency:
Edwin Castellanos (ecastell@uvg.edu.gt) Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
Rafael Díaz Porras (Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Costa Rica)
Catherine Tucker (Indiana University, US)
Hallie Eakin (School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, US)
Peter Laderach (CIAT, Nicaragua)
Students
Alejandro Santizo, Undergraduate, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala.
Ana Lucia Solano Garrido de Ramirez, Undergraduate, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala.
Celeste Sanchez, Master, Indiana University, Honduras.
Nicolasa Arredondo, Undergraduate, Universidad Autonoma Indegena de Mexico, Mexico.
Paola Diaz, Undergraduate, Universidad Autonoma Indegena de Mexico, Mexico.
Silvia Duarte, Master, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala.
