Coffee
Coffee is a ritual for some and an addiction for others. But
whole nations are dependent on it.
Traditionally
grown at high altitudes in shade, it provides a fertile habitat
for animals and birds. Satellites have a hard time distinguishing
forests from shade coffee plantations.
Traditional ways of growing coffee were pushed aside for factory
style farms...rows and rows of coffee ... in full sun.
Three-to-seven times as many plants are grown with a much higher
yield but with a heavy use of chemical pesticides that drain in
streams and rivers.
These varieties are directly linked to increased pollution of
ground water and the decline in migratory song birds.
Problems in the market
But sun coffees have one major problem in the market place -
taste.
Specialty
shops are willing to a pay premium for traditionally grown coffees
that often tastes better. Others are interested in organically
grown coffee because of its reduced impact on the environment
Farmers are taking an interest because these coffees get higher
prices at market.
The Arenal Project supports alternatives to sun coffees for example
through Fundacion Café forestal. This foundation is researching
organic coffees to strengthen the economic link between farmers
and the environment.
At
the Coopeldos coffee Beneficio, different native species are being
produced to increase shade and enrich the soil.
coffee processing is also a problem for the environment. It uses
a large amount of water that washes the berries to remove the
outer shell.
The white seed is than pumped into large fermentation tanks.
Afterwards the water is drained into holding lagoons.
The
berry shell is placed in large bins. In the past, both the water
used in washing the beans and shells would have polluted nearby
streams and rivers.
The Arenal Project supports alternatives to throwing out the
coffee byproducts.
At the Coopeldos they are now using part of the shell to fire
the furnace that dry the beans and reduces the amount of firewood
they use. Other byproducts are being used as fertilizer for the
coffee farmer.
At
Coopmonte de Oro - the cooperative is finding a strong market
for organic coffee that uses traditional methods to dry the beans
on patios.
Solar powered heaters are used to power fans that dry the beans
at other times.
Once the beans are tested, they can be sent off to large scale
roasters for foreign markets or roasted locally for a growing
number of local buyers.
In either case, the coop benefits from the higher prices they
can get at market and the environment benefits from reduced chemical
use and increased use of shade trees.
