2009

“Finding Solutions for a Sustainable Future”

“Engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education

to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable

environment”

Vision

“Sustainable Coffee Farming Practices in Tarrazú, Costa

Rica”

Certifications in CoopeTarrazú R.L.

• Rain Forest Alliance

• Fair Trade

• C.A.F.E. Practices/ Starbucks Coffee Company

Sustainable Plan of CoopeTarrazú R.L.Integration of the certifications

Research Initiative: Goals

Increased sustainable management of coffee plantations

Farm as a System

Coffee Plantation

Natural Resources

Farmers/ Workers

Practices/ Management

Specific goalsScientific understanding about relationship between farmer practices and coffee production, quality, soils and biodiversity

Specific goalsIncreased sustainable management of vulnerable

riparian zones and water resources

Coffee Farmers Involved

• Members of CoopeTarrazú

• Core group (40 farmers from Tarrazú)

• Complementary group (15 farmers from San Carlos de Tarrazú)

• 3 organic farmers from the region

Soil Erosion

Coffee Farmers: What are they Facing?

Prices of the inputsRequests of certification programsNecessity of improve their yields

What are they doing?

LotsFarmsCountyProvinceCountryRegion

Managing the landscapes in diferent scales

Capability ProgramIncrease awareness and understanding about

concept of ecology in nature and “agroecology” involved in coffee production

Capability ProgramFocusing in soil and water resource management

inside the coffee farm, biodiversity conservation, integrated pest management, and crop management

Research Initiative and Farmers

Provide information about sustainable practices in coffee production

Research Initiative and Farmers

Promote the use and interpretation of soil analysis

Soil Samples

Keep record of the fertility of soils

Interpretation of soil analysis

Acidez

CORTE pH Al Extr Ca Mg K P Fe Cu Zn Mn M.O. Sat.Ac. Cat. + CICE Ca/Mg Ca/K Mg/KLa Montura 4,60 2,71 2,04 0,51 0,28 14,50 270 5,10 1,20 10,70 48,92 2,83 5,54 4,00 7,29 1,82

4,7 2,51 3,13 1 0,51 27,3 165 2,3 5,9 159,1 35,10 4,64 7,15 3,13 6,14 1,96La Montura 4,2 4,19 0,99 0,39 0,31 15,6 466 4 1,1 13,5 71,26 1,69 5,88 2,54 3,19 1,26Socola 4,6 2,3 1,68 0,48 0,19 15,3 183 5,1 1,7 6,9 49,46 2,35 4,65 3,50 8,84 2,53 La Herradura 4,6 1,97 3,39 0,97 0,43 10,4 581 3,2 1,9 6,4 29,14 4,79 6,76 3,49 7,88 2,26Ricardo 4,5 2,17 2,03 0,65 0,25 13 245 3,2 0,9 5,8 42,55 2,93 5,10 3,12 8,12 2,60San Guillermo 5,6 0,51 6,21 2,01 0,88 9,6 63 3,4 1,3 81,6 5,31 9,10 9,61 3,09 7,06 2,28

Niveles Rangos RelacionesLimitanteOptimo < 2 < 5Critico < 5 < 25Bajo < 10 < 40RANGOS Bajo Critico Optimo < 1,5 < 15meq/100gr( cmol L -1)

Ca/KCa+Mg/K

Mg/K

óptimos

Ca/Mg

Nutritional Plans based on Soil Analysis

Organic Inputs

Liming

Experimental Plots

“Sampling plots”

Plote studied 2007-2009

Control

Treatment

Results

Efficiency in the farm

Improve their skills keeping track of the management

Research Initiative and Farmers

Improve their skills keeping track of the management

Capability Program Increase motivation of farmers and managers to take

action by keeping and analyzing production information, and developing production plans based on these production registries

Members of the farmers involved

Individual meetings with farmers

Workshops with farmers

Coffee managementSustainability at farmsNatural resources management

Field WorkCoffee plant productivity and health assessmentShade tree characterizationMapping of the coffee fieldsMicroclimate characterizationFoliar and soil sample collections

Volunteer’s Teams

Volunteer’s Teams

Coffee Quality“From the farm to the cup”

Relationship between Farmer Practices, Coffee Production and

Coffee Quality

Coffee Quality• Coffee samples (harvesting season)• Tasting activity with farmers and specialists• Compare the management of the coffee plantations against coffee quality

Processing Coffee Samples

Tasting activities

Plans, Strategies for 2010

Research Initiative

Improving farmer’s skills

Experimental plots

Coordinating plans with CoopeTarrazú R.L. and more institutions from the region

Volunteer’s Teams (Earthwatch Retails)

Still working

¡Thanks for your attention!