Commodity vs. Specialty: Coffee's Impact on the Environment

Putting the foot[print] in your coffee.

Intro.

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages globally; however, the environmental impact of our favorite go-getter socialite beverage is misunderstood.

As consumers, it is our responsibility to understand the nuance of the coffee supply chain.

In doing so, we can act more sustainably and make choices that benefit both the environment and farmers in coffee-producing countries. Only through the empowerment of knowledge can we create a more fair, equitable supply chain and mitigate coffee’s environmental footprint.

Coffee Cultivation and Deforestation

Coffee cultivation and deforestation have had a long-standing link. Between 2001 and 2015, coffee farming was responsible for 1.9 million hectares (Mha) of deforestation. In commodity-driven deforestation, coffee represents about 1.86% of deforestation, totaling 102 Mha during the same period.​

While this might seem significant, comparing it with other commodities is essential. Here are the deforestation impacts of various commodities between 2001 and 2015:

Source

• Cattle (pasture as a land use): 45.1 Mha

• Oil Palm: 10.5 Mha (of which 6.2 were direct)

• Soy: 8.2 Mha (of which 3.9 were direct)

• Cocoa: 2.3 Mha

• Plantation Rubber: 2.1 Mha

• Coffee: 1.9 Mha

• Plantation Wood Fiber: 1.8 Mha

When considering all causes of deforestation (forestry, commodity-driven deforestation, wildfires, shifting agriculture, and urbanization), coffee’s contribution is relatively low. It accounts for approximately 0.39% of the total 486 Mha, a far cry from cattle, which has a more significant impact than all other commodities combined.

Commodity Coffee vs. Specialty Coffee

The environmental impact of coffee production varies significantly between commodity and specialty coffee. Large, plantation-style farms typically grow commodity or ‘conventional’ coffee, prioritizing quantity over quality. This often leads to over-farming and heavy use of external inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which degrade soil health and increase the environmental footprint.

Specialty coffee growers on smaller farms, in contrast, usually adopt more sustainable practices. These farmers often use organic fertilizers, sometimes made from the coffee pulp left over from processing. They avoid over-farming and focus on producing high-quality beans. This approach helps preserve soil health and reduces the need for chemical inputs, making specialty coffee farming more environmentally friendly​.

Most criticisms regarding coffee’s sustainability often stem from the practices associated with commodity or conventional coffee production. These large-scale operations contribute significantly to deforestation, water usage, and carbon emissions because of their focus on high yields and reliance on chemical inputs. Specialty coffee, emphasizing quality and sustainable farming practices, presents a more eco-friendly alternative that can mitigate many of these environmental impacts​.

Specialty vs. Commodity Coffee Practices:

Organizations in smaller/specialty-focused countries, like Guatemala’s Anacafe, prioritize shade-grown coffee and agroforestry, safeguarding the region’s vulnerable ecological health by protecting watersheds, reducing erosion, and storing nutrients. For instance, Guatemala’s coffee production is 98% shade-grown, starkly contrasting the deforestation-intensive practices seen in larger commodity coffee producers like Brazil​.

Water Usage in Coffee Production

Coffee production is incredibly water intensive. On average, producing a single cup of coffee consumes about 140 liters of water, accounting for irrigation, processing, and brewing. Annually, this translates to 351 billion liters of water to meet global coffee consumption. This substantial water usage can strain local water resources, particularly in regions facing water scarcity​.

Investments directed towards coffee-producing countries, particularly in improving infrastructure and sustainable water management practices, could significantly mitigate water scarcity. Improved irrigation techniques, water recycling systems, and rainwater harvesting could help reduce coffee production’s water footprint​.

Carbon Emissions from Coffee Production

The coffee production process, from cultivation to processing, contributes significantly to carbon emissions. Cultivating coffee often involves clearing forests, which releases stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Additionally, the processing and transportation of coffee add to its carbon footprint. One day’s global coffee consumption results in approximately 900,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions, comparable to the annual electricity usage of 177,000 homes​.

Soil Degradation and Biodiversity Loss

Intensive coffee farming can lead to soil degradation, reducing fertility and productivity over time. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides often exacerbate this, which can harm soil health and local water sources. Moreover, converting forests into coffee plantations disrupts local ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss. Species that once thrived in forested areas may struggle to survive in monoculture plantations​.

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The Growth of Robusta

Between 2001 and 2015, nearly 2 million hectares (Mha) of forest were replaced by coffee plantations. Of this, 1.1 Mha was used for robusta and 0.8 Mha for arabica. Robusta, generally grown in full sun at lower latitudes, has been the primary driver of this deforestation. The countries most affected include Indonesia (33% of the global total), Brazil (16%), Madagascar (14%), and Vietnam (12%). On the other hand, arabica is typically grown in shaded, higher-altitude regions, with significant deforestation impacts seen in Brazil (36%), Peru (20%), and Colombia (8%).

The rise in deforestation for robusta coffee is driven by increasing global demand, particularly in Asia and Brazil. Robusta’s share of global coffee production rose from 36% in 2000 to 44% in 2015, likely because of its use in instant coffee and other mass-market products.

As Maya Nguyen suggests, the growth in robusta’s popularity may be due to the general increase in coffee consumption, and larger companies opt for less expensive crops rather than a specific preference for robusta itself. Fine robusta, comparable to specialty arabica, remains a niche market, and the land use changes for these specialty robusta farms are likely insignificant compared to broader trends in robusta cultivation.

Robusta’s cultivation often leads to large-scale deforestation because it thrives in full sun, requiring forest clear-cutting. Conversely, arabica coffee can sometimes slow deforestation rates because it thrives in shaded environments, allowing farmers to preserve trees in cultivation areas. This agroforestry approach supports biodiversity, maintains soil health, and benefits local ecosystems.

For more insights into the dynamics of robusta coffee and its place in the coffee industry, I highly recommend reading Maya Nguyen and I’s article on fine robusta here:

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The Importance of Investment in Coffee-Producing Countries

Investing in the infrastructure and supporting farmers in coffee-producing countries is key to raising sustainability in coffee production. This includes:

• Improved Water Management: Developing efficient irrigation systems, water recycling, and rainwater harvesting to reduce water usage.

• Sustainable Farming Practices: Promoting agroforestry, organic farming, and other sustainable practices to enhance soil health and biodiversity.

• Fair Trade and Economic Support: Ensuring farmers receive fair wages and have access to resources that can improve their livelihoods and reduce economic pressure to engage in environmentally harmful practices.

Conclusion

The environmental impacts of coffee production are substantial, affecting deforestation, water resources, carbon emissions, and biodiversity. However, we can significantly mitigate these effects by investing in infrastructure and supporting sustainable practices in coffee-producing countries. Making informed choices about the coffee we choose to drink can lead to a more sustainable and equitable coffee industry. This approach addresses environmental concerns and supports the livelihoods of millions of coffee farmers worldwide who rely on coffee production to maintain their livelihood.

Drink responsibly.

~Aireus