Benefits of syntropic farming in coffee production

– FIND THE ORIGIN –

What are the benefits of syntropic farming in coffee production? Coffee production is closely linked to agronomy – which includes farming techniques as well as addressing the link between animals, organisms, plants, people and the environment. So in the connection between coffee – agriculture, how to make syntropic farming bring benefits to coffee production? Let’s go with 43 Factory Coffee Roaster to find the answer to this problem.

Syntropic farming model

Syntropic farming (also known as inherited agroforestry) is essentially regenerative agriculture, but there are several layers to the model. Farming methods are used to integrate food production (including coffee) with the surrounding environment in a way that benefits both.

Simply put, this method is alternating, planting different plants so that they influence each other and grow better.

The integrated farming model was developed by Swiss researcher and farmer Ernst Götsch. He has worked on farms in Bahia, Brazil since the 1980s. He explains the holistic approach behind integrated farming.

“It is the process of producing and harvesting what we need from plants and animals, while maintaining a positive balance in the relationships between different species,” he said.

Benefits of syntropic farming in coffee production

According to Errnst, syntropic farming encourages more natural and sustainable methods of food production. For example, planting many different tree species in the same area will encourage biodiversity. The number of animals, birds, insects and microorganisms will increase, thereby creating a healthier and more diverse ecosystem.

“Integrated agriculture is about understanding the dynamics between all organisms. It is also about reaching a level of integration that benefits all organisms in the ecosystem.”, Ernst said.

For this model to be implemented successfully, we must be aware that each species of plant, animal, bird, insect, microorganism plays an important role in the ecosystem. Prayers need to be in harmony with each other.

Agricultural farming methods are known to improve soil health and water cycles, regulate the microbial environment, and improve the resilience of the region as far as climate change is concerned. Over time, if a balance is achieved among all organisms, crop production can be of great benefit.

Syntropic Farming process

The process of this model is based on the practical experiences of Wilians Valério Jr. is a Brazilian coffee producer from Alto Caparaó. He applied this pattern across his farm by replanting all the coffee trees and interspersing them with other crops, including peaches, phalaenopsis and olives.

When Wilians took over production at the family-run farm in 2015, he chose to focus on specialty coffee production.

“I decided to choose a farming model that could improve our income without removing any of the coffee trees my father had grown, so I turned to integrated agriculture,” he said.

Two years later, Wilians placed 12th at the Brazilian Coffee of the Year awards. Since then, the family has applied integrated farming on their entire farm and has shown promising results with 6th place the following year.

How does syntropic farming benefit coffee production?

According to Ernst and Wilians, in order for the syntropic farming model to benefit coffee production in general, it is first necessary to recognize this model in agriculture in general. Ernst explains that one of the many benefits of integrated agriculture is that it can optimize yield per tree in the long run. The reason is that trees grow in harmony with nature, so they can bring out their full potential when given enough time.

After implementing syntropic farming techniques on his farm, Wilians has noticed significant improvements in his coffee: Pest resistance, plant growth and yield, bean size are all improved.

Besides that, the taste of coffee has also changed: The taste is more complex, with more depth and a long finish in the palate.

These farmers have realized that when more sustainable coffee production methods are used, such as integrated farming techniques, coffee yields can become more stable.

One important thing everyone should keep in mind is consistent pruning, shading, and light exposure. If we can control these factors according to the right indicators for the coffee plant, it will bring amazing results in terms of quality and yield.

The benefits of syntropic farming in coffee production have been proven over a long period of time on different farms. But when implementing this method, farmers also face many challenges. People need to research to find the right intercropping, which cannot be applied rigidly from farm to farm.