Buying Coffee: A Surprising Way to Protect Creation

Linda B. Rimer, Environmental Stewardship Committee Chair

Perhaps you're already purchased some Bishop's Blend coffee which is being sold by our youth to support mission trips this summer to New Orleans and Savannah. Maybe your motive was simply to support the kids and their good works. Maybe your motives were more broadly motivated when you read in Crossings that the coffee was excellent and "grown with great respect for the workers, their communities and the environment."

This article will explain what these words mean, and describe why you should consider buying shade-grown, organic and fair trade coffee.

Why shade grown coffee? Until the 1970s, farmers grew coffee under the shade of native forest without extensive use of chemicals and fertilizers. The shade provided protection from the sun, since originally, coffee bean plants were shade lovers. As demand for coffee rose, farmers and coffee traders sought ways to grow more beans on the same amount of land. This was accomplished by: (1) developing a sun-tolerant variety of coffee plant; and (2) destroying all the trees and under-story that grew on coffee plantations in order to exclusively grow coffee plants.

This is exactly what happened for millions of acres of coffee plantations. And yes, the number of coffee beans available for the market increased. But there were other consequences. The trees that were destroyed had historically provided valuable habitat for many migratory birds. These birds were beneficial to the coffee plants because they preyed on many of the pests that damaged the coffee plants. Because the trees and other under-story plants fixed nitrogen in the soil, significantly increasing its productivity, the need for fertilizers was greatly reduced. Those trees also held the soil in place, protecting streams and rivers from sediment pollution. Removing the trees and under-story negated all these natural and beneficial effects.

The structure of a shade coffee forest mimics a native forest in many ways, for it provides a rich habitat for plants and animals, especially migratory birds. As rainforests disappear due to logging for timber, shade coffee farms offer one of the last places for birds to feed and rest in many tropical regions. Results vary across studies but most show a wide range in the number of species of birds found in the forests of shade coffee farms (>130-140) compared with the number of species found in sun coffee farms (20-50 species).

Early on, sun-grown coffee was perceived to be more profitable because of higher yields. Increasingly, these practices are being seen as a short-term success in a long-term commodity. In order to keep the plants producing, increasing amounts of fertilizers are needed; as natural predators are lost, increasing amounts of herbicides and pesticides are needed to bring the beans to harvest; and the costs of these chemical applications reduce the bottom line income of coffee farmers.

Why organic coffee? Like organic farming in general, organic coffee farmers seek to work with nature, using methods and materials that have a far smaller impact on the environment. Organic farmers strive to replenish and maintain soil fertility, greatly eliminating the need for chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. This reduction in chemical applications means a healthier environment for farmers and their families.

It is easy to see that the older methods of growing coffee beans in the shade are very compatible with organic farming practices. Having said that, not all shade-grown coffee is organically grown and not all organic coffee is shade grown. It is important to read labels.

Why fair-trade coffee? When you go to your favorite coffee house and, perhaps grudgingly, pay close to $4 for your daily cup of latte, you may assume that coffee farmers are making out like bandits when they put their beans on the market. The reality is that there are many people between the farmers and your cup of coffee. There are processors, roasters, exporters, creditors, commodity brokers, and retailers - who all add to the cost. Large increases in bean production, brought on by sun-growing practices, have chronically depressed the price of coffee on the world market and made it difficult for small farmers to make a living. Fair trade organizations work directly with cooperatives of small farmers to eliminate much of the middleman costs and provide the farmers with a stable price that helps to ensure a decent standard of living.

If you haven't yet been convinced to become dedicated purchasers of shade-grown, organic and fair trade coffee, there is one more point - many coffee lovers argue that organic, shade-grown beans taste better! Why? Because the beans grow slower in soil that has retained its complex nutrient base. And not only are organic coffee beans grown without chemical fertilizers and pesticides, they are also processed without the use of harsh chemicals.

So now you can understand what is meant when you read in Crossings, that Bishop's Blend coffee is "grown with great respect for the workers, their communities and the environment." So the last and best reason for buying shade-grown, organic, and fair-trade coffee is because it is a great way to help protect God's creation - people, plants, and animals.

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