Farmer and volunteer participatory research on sustainable coffee farming in Los Santos region of Costa Rica

Background/Question/Methods

Starting in 2007, we have been running a field research program about the effects of different farming practices on coffee production and environmental indicators on 40 coffee fields in the Los Santos region of Costa Rica.  The field research program serves as a platform to engage 65 non-local “volunteers” as well as 55 local producers/farmers in the scientific and socioeconomic issues surrounding coffee sustainability.  Among the volunteers participating are employees of corporations interested in sustainable farming including Starbucks, Nestle, and Ernst and Young, as well as North Americans interested in myriad aspects of coffee production. Field data being collected include plant production, shade tree diversity and density, soil and foliar data analyses, and invertebrate diversity, among others. The educational goals of the volunteer program include increasing awareness of the challenges and opportunities inherent in minimizing the environmental impact of sustainable farming, while goals for the farmer program similarly included increasing awareness of environmental impacts along with improving attitudes towards more sustainable coffee farming.

Results/Conclusions

Evaluations of the volunteer program reveal that using a participatory research-based environmental action framework can lead to greater development of pro-environmental behaviors, especially with respect to critical thinking, civic engagement/social responsibility and cultural sensitivity. More than 80% of participating volunteers, for instance, were inspired by their experiences to give presentations in their workplace or for local environmental groups after their return. Furthermore, more than 50% of participating volunteers reported that they were inspired to lead pro-environmental activities locally after their experiences in the program. In addition to reporting on these and other indicators of increased environmental sensitivity for participants, we identify linkages between a better understanding of coffee sustainability at the supply side and ensuing consumer behavior -- as well as opportunities for changes in corporate behavior. Finally, we report on the status of ongoing longitudinal studies aimed at documenting behavior change at all levels.

Responses by the farmers to the program suggest that a more informal approach of engagement on farms can lead to an increase in their understanding of environmental issues. Furthermore, several farmers in the program adapted more environmentally-friendly practices on their farms, including making the switch from synthetic to organic fertilizers, among others.