Coffee&Climate Launches Free Toolbox for Coffee Farmers Facing Climate Change

Photo courtesy of Coffee&Climate.

The multi-stakeholder Coffee&Climate platform has just launched a free online toolbox designed to support coffee farmers worldwide in reacting to climate change.

Available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Vietnamese, the virtual toolbox has launched with 24 reports, plus numerous additional case studies, covering a wide range of topics that may be of value to coffee farmers seeking sustainable solutions for climate change resilience in the coffeelands.

Examples of topics include: varietal selection in drought; water-saving irrigation; coffee field spacing; climatic zoning; on-farm climate monitoring; the use of biochar or other organic or non-organic inputs; and rainwater harvesting.

The group describes the resource as a compilation of tools, climate maps, case studies, guidelines and training materials design to equip farmers and farming communities with resources to support climate resiliency. While the toolbox is by no means a comprehensive guide, C&C is encouraging its users to submit their own feedback to help the resource evolve.

Coffee&Climate photo from a resource on grafting.

“All provided tools are continuously tested and further developed by farmers together with some of the world’s leading scientists in the specific regions,” the group said. “Based on evaluations from farmers in the field, the provided materials of the toolbox are constantly updated and reviewed. Visitors are invited to use the toolbox as an interactive platform and to also share their own experiences on effective tools.”

The Coffee&Climate platform was created by several of Europe’s largest coffee companies in 2010, with contributions from other project partners from the fields of research and international development, along with implementation partners the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung and Conservation International. The Coffee&Climate project is scheduled to end next year, though the organizations are seeking to keep the initiative going beyond 2019.