A New Industry Guide for Renovation & Rehabilitation

Coffee-growing regions around the world are feeling the impact of aging trees and diseases (such as coffee leaf rust, pictured above), on the quality and supply of coffee. Supporting responsible coffee farm renovation and rehabilitation is crucial to the future of coffee, and the longevity of our industry.

That’s why the Sustainable Coffee Challenge, in partnership with USAID’s Bureau for Food Security and  Dalberg Advisors, has released  a new Guidebook for Roasters, Traders, and Supply Chain Partners. 

The Guidebook is a comprehensive resource for companies, governments, investors, and service providers interested in undertaking Renovation & Rehabilitation (R&R) efforts; it:

• Defines the need and makes the case for renovation and rehabilitation
• Provides practical & useful tips on how to structure R&R programs 
• Suggests ways that different stakeholders can engage in R&R
• Presents case studies and links to experts and service providers

R&R investments are critical for ensuring the continued supply of coffee and meeting future demand. While governments and actors in coffee value chains have invested USD 1.2 billion in R&R so far, this has only met around 5% of the smallholder farmers in need

According to the Guidebook, if the industry did reach these farmers in need of R&R, benefits would include more coffee, higher incomes for farmers, and reduction in future deforestation.

Here’s a look at the numbers:

There is a significant need for R&R across the smallholder farmer (SHF) world…

More than 50% of the seven million hectares of global SHF coffee land could benefit from R&R

…entailing that global production could grow significantly…

Global production could increase between 5-20% if R&R is applied to all land in need

…which would mean more value to farmers…

Farmers could accrue between USD ~1-3 billion at farmgate prices through increased coffee sales per year

…and fewer trees cut down for otherwise new, expanded, plantations

Without R&R, a similar increase in yields and value would require an expansion of coffee land onto ~1-3 million hectares of new land under current yields

Access both the executive summary and the full report here, or download the PDF.

To learn more, check out the NCA webinar “Building Resilient Coffee Farms: A New Industry Guide for Renovation & Rehabilitation,” Dec. 28, 1-2 PM Eastern (Free for NCA Members)

 

Compiled by Kyra Auffermann, NCA