The Effects of Brazilian Coffee Trade on Family Farmers
The humanities are reflected in the conditions and significance of Brazilian coffee farmers. [5] In Brazil, family farmers increasingly adopt agroecological principles to balance sustainable agriculture, livelihood improvement, and biodiversity conservation. Since 1993, coffee agroforestry (AF) experimentation has expanded across farms, integrating sun coffee (SC) and agroforestry plots. However, research on the economic aspects of AF, such as productivity, labour inputs, and profitability, is limited, and there is little documentation on local management strategies and tree selection, which are essential for scaling AF coffee production and shaping agri-environmental policies.
This specific study focuses on the Zona da Mata (ZM) region, part of the Atlantic Rainforest biodiversity hotspot, where family farms are predominant. [5] Sustainable agriculture is crucial here, as the "green revolution" led to environmental and social challenges, including significant biodiversity loss—only 12-14% of forest cover remains. In 1993, agroecological experimentation began to enhance crop diversification, soil restoration, and biodiversity conservation. [5] Over time, farmers, NGOs, and researchers transitioned from conventional farming to more ecologically sustainable systems, gradually establishing AF coffee systems on 37 farms.
Located in Minas Gerais, the ZM region has a tropical highland climate characterized by small-scale, conventional coffee and cattle farming. [5] Around 600 families in 20 municipalities are engaged in agroecological transition, collaborating with NGOs, farmers' organizations, and research institutes. These farms serve as platforms for knowledge exchange on the effects of agroecological practices on productivity, profitability, and environmental services.
In the initial AF experiments, farmers, in partnership with a local NGO and university researchers, considered factors like stability, avoiding nutrient competition, and maintaining coffee production when selecting trees for AF systems. Based on local availability and market opportunities, tree species were chosen for their multiple uses, such as food, wood, and medicine. [5] Some exotic species, like Casuarinaceae and Ebenaceae, were eliminated due to competition with coffee plants. Tree families that offered diverse products, such as Bignoniaceae and Myrtaceae, were retained or added.
