Engaging a coffee farmer community in the Los Santos region of Costa Rica: Developing tools for farmers to encourage sustainable farming practices

Background/Question/Methods

Costa Rica intensified coffee production in the early 1980s, converting large areas of diverse shade coffee to modern conventional sun or low shade coffee. Using modern methods, the Los Santos region is one of the most productive coffee growing regions in the world. Unfortunately, these methods have proven unsustainable and yields are declining. Earthwatch has engaged farmers in this region to reduce the environmental costs from this long history of intensive production. The objective of this project was to encourage farmers to adopt sustainable coffee farming practices by applying a more rational and scientific approach to their decision-making process. Forty farmers were trained to use logbook registers to document inputs and production on their coffee farms over a 4-year period. In addition, each year, Earthwatch volunteer teams sampled the soil, evaluated farming practices, and  counted coffee berry production on each farm. Soil analysis software helps farmers interpret soil lab results and reduce agrochemical inputs.

Results/Conclusions

This research has demonstrated to farmers that high levels of agrochemical use degrade soil and reduce production. In total, farmers that participated for the first three years applied on average 336.2kg less synthetic fertilizer per hectare, nearly 7.5 fewer bags per hectare, for a savings of roughly $243 per hectare or about $1,200 per farmer. Soil acidity on project farms declined, with an increase in pH 4.66 to 4.84 as a result of reduced fertilizer and increased use of lime. Reduced acidity has resulted in a significant and strong increase in berry density as measured by average berries per branch. On the farms we assessed, average berries per branch increased from 25.1 to 33.4. This represents a potential 33 percent increase in yield. Berry density per plant correlates well with both bean weight and cup quality. Using Earthwatch tools to track and evaluate their farming decisions and new insights from workshops, farmers are reducing inputs and adopting more sustainable practices that reduce costs and improve yields. With new ecosystem service payment programs in Costa Rica, farmers are more open to restoring trees into the landscape. Tools developed by this program will allow farmers to evaluate the effect of improved shade practices on their soil and production as an alternative to the conventional growing model.