Cooxupé participates in international study on coffee carbon footprint

Cooxupé has partaken in a baseline study on Coffee Carbon Footprint in Latin America. A collaborative projectmanagedby 4C Services GmbH, a German company, world leader in management of sustainability certification for the coffee sector. Supported by Sustainable Coffee Challenge, a global coalition composed by more than 120 partners. It is dedicated to turn coffee into the first fully-sustainable agricultural product in the world. The initiative analyzed greenhouse gas emissions in coffee production in five countries: Brasil, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico and Peru.

The study measures the efficiency of productive regarding carbon emissions until the farm gate. Considering steps like usage of ag inputs, crop management, consumption of energy, transportation and processing within the farm. Indeed, the main purpose is to establish a comparable base between producing countries and to support strategies for mitigation of climate issues in the sector.

Productive efficiency and reduction of emissions in the field

Cooxupé has participated by encouraging its members to adhere. Those members have contributed with information about their practices in production, noted by means of standardized methodology, in line with international protocols for carbon accountability.

The researcher Renata Gonçalves, coordinator of the project, declares that the model is the first one developed specifically for coffee culture. She says that the methodology complies with internationally recognized standards like GHG Protocol, a global reference for inventories of emissions.

“Adapting to coffee farming has demanded detailed collection of data in the field. Including analysis of carbon stored in the soil in crops of diverse ages, topographies and management systems”, she explains.

João Paulo da Silva, one of the researchers, has said that it was possible to set more accurate parameters about the variation of carbon in the soil at coffee farms by cross-referencing such information against Cooxupé’s data log.

Carbon footprint in coffee might also impact quality of the beverage

The researchers highlight that sustainable practices might also reflect in the quality of coffee. Increase of organic matter in the soil enhances the availability of nutrients for the plants. It also reduces the need for fertilizers and may be favorable to the development of fruits with better sensory profile.

The results indicate that most the emissions are concentrated in activities carried out within the farm. Especially the use of fertilizers. Which is the main vector of emissions in coffee farming, counting for roughly 68% out of total in Brazilian Arabica coffee production. The management of residues is also very relevance, while transportation, energy and residual water are less impacting.

In Brazil, transportation accounts for near 2% of total emissions, while treatment of residual water has marginal impact, close to 0.02%. The data emphasize that the most effective strategies of mitigation are directly linked to management within the farms.

“The participation of Cooxupé in the study, stresses the importance of measuring and understanding the emissions in coffee farming in order to drive more effective actions in the field. Results show that the reduction of emissions is directly linked to: efficiency in the use of ag inputs, adequate management of residues and to adoption of good agricultural practices. This is a path that has been being tailored with the co-op members. Focused in productivity and sustainability”, said Luiz Fernando Reis, Head of green coffee trade at Cooxupé.

Data that guide sustainable decision in coffee farming

Also, more balanced soil contributes to greater resilience in face of extreme climate events, as heat waves, frosts and drought, increasingly frequent in producing regions.

Sustainability as a market demand

Beyond environmental concerns, the developed solution meets a growing demand in international market. This is mostly due to buyers demanding more and more evidence of sustainable practices and strategies of mitigation of emissions in order to keep commercial relations.

Therefore, the tool resulted from the research integrates Cooxupé’s Gerações Sustainability Protocol, aimed at good financial, social and environmental practices.

“Measuring the emissions is a fundamental step for us to evolve in sustainability. It allows the farmers to access substantial data to make decisions and to strengthen their position in the market”, highlights Natália Fernandes Carr, ESG Manager at Cooxupé.

The study also emphasizes the role of components as shade trees and intercropping systems, that contribute to storing carbon and to sustainability in producing systems. The survey assembles companies, organizations and specialists of coffee sector. With focus in generating data and in the advance of climate-driven strategies in coffee supply chain.