There is nothing quite like that first cup of coffee in the morning. For me it’s a moment to gather my thoughts before the day really begins. However, this daily ritual isn’t something we can take for granted.
Climatologists have warned that without
action, coffee farmers in Africa will lose their livelihoods. So, if we want to
keep enjoying that precious cup, we need to ensure our coffee is sustainably
sourced.
Coffee farming in Africa
The continent produces 12% of the world’s coffee, with over ten
million farmers across 30 countries. Whilst demand for coffee is forecast to
grow significantly, crops have been declining in Côte d’Ivoire - the largest
coffee producer in West Africa.
Nestlé has been manufacturing coffee in Côte
d’Ivoire for over 60 years, and we have seen first-hand the challenges farmers
are facing.
Climate change creates rising temperatures, drought and flooding
which makes coffee more difficult to grow. Under this pressure farmers have
turned to environmentally harmful practices such as deforestation and are
substituting old coffee trees for crops which are easier to grow.
The case for sustainable coffee farming and transition to regenerative
agriculture
It’s not too late to reverse this decline.
On a recent farm visit to the village of Yobouekro, I saw for myself the impact
climate change is having. I met with Amani Ahou, a female coffee farmer who,
until recently planned to abandon her plantation as the crop from her aged
trees had fallen to depressingly low levels.
Over the last few years, Amani has
received training from Nescafé agronomists. She has learnt pruning techniques,
composting and the importance of planting shade trees. She is now more upbeat
about the prospect of reviving her coffee farm. ‘My plantation has rejuvenated,
my old trees are starting to flower again, and are producing good coffee’, she
said.
It was great to see for myself how
improving technical knowledge, building stronger partnerships between farmers
and industry can have a real and lasting impact for farmers like Amani.
Regenerative agricultural techniques like
these play a critical role in the future of coffee farming. They will improve
soil health, restore water cycles, increase biodiversity, and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. By planting more coffee trees and encouraging greater
biodiversity, farmers can create an environment for bees, insects and birds to
thrive on their farms. This will have a positive impact on the ecosystem and
reduce the effects of climate change.
The responsibility and cost for transitioning to regenerative agriculture cannot lie solely with the farmers. It’s been 10 years since we launched the Nescafé plan, during this time we have worked closely with farmers to improve agricultural practices, sharing our knowledge and expertise from across the planet. The plan builds farming skills to help farmers produce higher quality beans and achieve higher premiums, so they can support their families and contribute meaningfully to their local communities.
However, we know there is much more to be
done, which is why we are going further and last week announced the Nescafé Plan 2030 to
accelerate regenerative agriculture, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and
improve coffee farmers’ livelihoods.
Nescafé has committed to invest over 1 billion Swiss francs globally. The aims of the plan are:
- 100% of our coffee to be sourced responsibly by 2025.
- 20% of coffee sourced from regenerative agricultural methods by 2025 and 50% by 2030.
In Côte d'Ivoire, we are committed to support farmers that take on
the risk and costs associated with transitioning to regenerative agriculture.
We will be piloting a financial scheme which includes conditional cash
incentives for adopting regenerative agriculture practices.
We have a long way to go, but if the whole coffee industry in Africa supports this transition to regenerative agriculture, we will ensure no farmer is left behind, so we can continue to uplift lives and livelihoods with every cup we drink.