Variety Makes The Farm Go Round
It takes more than just coffee trees to grow good coffee. Promoting biodiversity is vital for healthy soil. In Thailand and Indonesia, coffee farmers plant betel nuts, peppers, chilies, and avocados. A greater variety of trees attracts a greater number of insects that pollinate fields and support local wildlife. More shade means less need for herbicides and more leaves when shed, which enrich the soil’s organic matter. Trees reduce carbon emissions, control soil erosion, recycle nutrients and protect watersheds. More crops mean more products to sell or feed local families and it all goes back to the farmers we work with, all thanks to biodiversity.