Climate change is critically affecting Brazil’s coffee production, which saw a slight decline in 2024 due to adverse conditions. Expocacer is implementing innovative practices to counter these effects, including smart irrigation and regenerative agriculture. The Educampo Project offers vital support to producers, helping them adapt to challenges while enhancing productivity and sustainability.
Climate change poses significant challenges to Brazil’s coffee industry, with 2024 production estimated at 54.79 million 60kg bags, marking a slight decline of 0.5% from the previous year. This decrease is attributed to adverse climatic factors, including prolonged drought and extreme temperatures that have hindered coffee cultivation in various regions.
Producers in the Cerrado Mineiro area experienced severe drought conditions and temperature spikes nearing 40°C, accompanied by frost occurrences that adversely affected their harvests. Fernando Couto, an agricultural engineer from the Cerrado Coffee Growers Cooperative (Expocacer), noted that these climatic issues resulted in a water deficit surpassing 400mm, leading to significant productivity losses. “In addition, high temperatures and frosts caused direct damage, such as the burning of productive branches, and indirect damage, including physiological disorders that reduced the plants’ productive potential,” Couto stated.
In response, Expocacer has been integral in introducing innovative and sustainable practices intended to mitigate the impacts of climate change on coffee farming. These strategies include investing in technological advances and integrated management practices such as smart irrigation systems that utilize soil moisture sensors and weather stations to optimize water usage, resulting in increased yields.
The cooperative also promotes regenerative agriculture through the use of organic fertilizers and soil management techniques to enhance root growth and plant resilience against harsh conditions. Additionally, under the Brazilian GHG Protocol initiative, Expocacer became the first coffee cooperative in Brazil recognized for its efforts in carbon emissions reduction, enabling them to align processes with sustainability goals and share transparent results with stakeholders and consumers.
The role of Expocacer extends beyond mere technical support; it also includes access to modern technology and educational programs. The Educampo Project, in collaboration with Sebrae Minas, offers producers specialized advisory services in crop management, individual diagnostics, and tailored annual production planning. “The program offers specialized consultants to assist producers with property management, providing personalized diagnostics, crop monitoring, and the creation of annual production plans,” explained Couto.
Désio Rodrigo, owner of Lidon Cachoeira Alta farm, illustrates the effectiveness of the Educampo initiative. He remarked, “With sustainable soil management and more strategic planning, we’ve been able to tackle challenges like droughts and frosts, achieving more solid results. The program helped us identify cost-saving opportunities, reduce pesticide use.” This kind of technical mentoring has facilitated modernized operations and enhanced production efficiency in the face of environmental challenges.
In summary, climate change significantly impacts Brazil’s coffee industry, highlighting the urgent need for adaptive strategies. Expocacer is responding effectively through innovative practices, technological advancements, and comprehensive support programs, such as Educampo. These efforts are critical for ensuring the resilience and sustainability of coffee production amidst the challenges posed by climate change. Continuous investment in such initiatives will be vital for the future success of the coffee sector.
Original Source: www.teaandcoffee.net
