Will coffee production by agroforestry or monoculture destroy the environment?

– PROTECT THE ORIGIN – 

Sustainable coffee production, environmental conservation is always an important hot topic for the whole industry. In particular, the choice of growing coffee according to agroforestry or monoculture methods to be environmentally friendly is also a matter of great concern to the coffee world in the world. What new options can make coffee production balance between economic value, environmental responsibility and social justice? Will these two production methods have a negative impact on the environment? Let’s find the answer with 43 factory Coffee Roaster through this article!

Overview of agroforestry and monoculture coffee production

What is agroforestry coffee production?

Agroforestry coffee production is a land use management system in which coffee is grown interspersed with or within shrubs, herbaceous, woody, grasslands or even livestock. This combination can be carried out simultaneously or planted over a period of time and space to create more diversity and productivity for coffee trees and the ecosystem. It turns the coffee lands into a forest that integrates many symbiotic flora and fauna to grow in a better way without too much intervention of farmers.

Coffee grown in agroforestry is grown under trees, with a moderate density of trees. This planting method helps coffee plants have a suitable space to develop roots, fully absorb light, minerals, water, … by preventing excessive exposure to the elements, filtering light. Sunlight, wind, and excessive rainfall at the same time create conditions for well-nourished soil. The coffee grown this way is also less pest and better quality. Because the diverse plant and organism system will control pests, weeds, increase yield and quality of seeds through pollination and the food chain in nature. When birds or bees come to the coffee forest to feed, they can kill some harmful insects, helping the plant to pollinate better.

What is monoculture coffee production?

Unlike agroforestry, monoculture coffee production is a form of coffee growing on a certain area with a dense tree density. To produce according to the monoculture method, a large area is needed exclusively for growing coffee to maximize land use and increase production.

Modeled coffee does not live in a diverse ecosystem to take advantage of symbiosis, pollination or natural temperature regulation of the environment. Single-crop coffee is also planted more densely, causing the plants to compete for space and nutrients. Therefore, they often have to use a large amount of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides to increase productivity, yield and control pests. Although the production of single-crop coffee is high, if improper use of chemicals can cause residues of some harmful substances to users.

Producing agroforestry coffee or monoculture will destroy the environment

It can be clearly seen that coffee grown under agroforestry is more environmentally friendly and sustainable than the single-crop model.

Agroforestry coffee production has a positive impact on the environment

To grow coffee in the form of agroforestry, producers need to create a diverse environment for coffee to live in harmony with nature. To do this, it is necessary to actively raise crops, revive and protect primeval forests to help increase the area of forests being destroyed. Plants are given priority to grow in harmony with nature, so they do not use chemical fertilizers that pollute the environment. Instead, the growing areas take advantage of biological products and organic fertilizers, which should be beneficial to the soil, reducing the amount of CO2 released into the environment. However, producers need to invest a huge amount of finance, time and effort to create a complete agroforestry coffee ecosystem. Moreover, the tree grows based on nature, so the output is still limited, making the price of coffee many times higher than the normal method. Therefore, when launching products in the high-end segment, very few people know and use them. This makes it difficult for coffee under the agroforestry model to have commercial and economic balance, coffee farmers become poor and difficult to continue pursuing their profession.

Single-crop coffee production can damage the environment

Single-crop coffee has a higher yield, and farmers have less financial and labor burden. However, the intensive cultivation of a single product on a large plantation area causes negative impacts on the environment. In order to make the most of the land to grow coffee, the forests have been destroyed to exhaustion, some types of organisms are in danger of extinction, soil erosion. Without forests to protect and purify the atmosphere can make climate change worse. The amount of chemical fertilizers and pesticides used regularly causes environmental pollution, affecting human health. If demand increases and there are no control measures, monoculture coffee could affect the entire biodiversity, air, climate, soil, water and most importantly the lives of generations after us. .

43 Factory Coffee Roaster chooses agro-forestry coffee or single crop

The environment could be devastated if monoculture coffee continues to grow. They can cause pollution of water sources, land, deforestation, climate change, etc. On the contrary, agroforestry coffee is a solution that can increase forest area and green hills. bare, improve the soil to limit chemical substances harmful to the environment. Realizing that situation, 43 Factory Coffee Roaster always researches and chooses coffee farms following agroforestry and promotes the spirit of nature conservation such as Ninety Plus, Geisha Village, Finca Soledad,… devoted to bringing eggplant seeds with love, enthusiasm for the health and sustainability of the environment, community and society. Through boxes, tags, cups of coffee or inspirational stories, I hope you understand the value and meaning to join hands for justice and common development of all humanity and ourselves.

Depending on how coffee is grown, it can be beneficial or destructive to the environment. For each of us, the use of coffee grown in agroforestry is a way to protect the green planet. If you have not found a place to trust, you can choose 43 Factory Coffee Roaster, the beans at farmers with original beauty will certainly not disappoint you.

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