Exploring Agroforestry in Coffee Production for Climate Resilience
The production of coffee, one of the world’s most popular beverages, is facing an uncertain future due to climate change.
As the effects of climate change are felt, Vietnam, the second-largest coffee producer globally, is grappling with declining productivity, water shortages, soil degradation, and increased pest and disease prevalence. Looking at possible future solutions, NbSI Masters student Caleb Bram embarked on a mission to explore the synergies and trade-offs between environmental and socio-economic outcomes for coffee agroforestry systems in this crucial region.
Caleb focused his research on agroforestry as a nature-based solution. Agroforestry, the practice of integrating trees and crops, offers a promising solution to the modern agricultural challenge: how can we increase production to meet global demands, whilst also reducing environmental harm and safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods?
Combining crops to tackle climate change
By studying coffee agroforestry, where coffee is grown under shade, we can unlock the potential to address these critical concerns.
Conducting fieldwork in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, (with support from the University of Oxford, The Tropical Agriculture Association (TAA) and EuroFins Foundation), Caleb compared full-sun coffee monocultures with two shaded coffee agroforestry systems: coffee-pepper intercropping and fruit-based coffee agroforestry. Over eight weeks, he collected data through interdisciplinary research, including surveys, on-farm measurements, and a microclimate study in Vietnam’s Lak district. The goal of this study was to quantify the effects of shaded coffee systems on various environmental, social, and economic indicators.
Key findings of the study showed notable differences between shaded agroforestry and monoculture growing systems:
- Total productivity per unit land area in shaded coffee systems was, on average, higher by 1 tonne per hectare (t ha-1) compared to coffee monocultures.
- Net income per hectare ($ ha-1) in shaded coffee systems were, on average, greater by $1760 compared to coffee monocultures.
- Maximum temperatures experienced by coffee trees were 1.7 degrees celcius lower under shade compared to unshaded conditions.
- Relative humidity under shade was 2.9% higher compared to unshaded conditions.
- On average, above ground carbon storage was higher in shaded coffee systems by 6.5 Megagrams carbon per hectare (Mg C ha-1). i.e., carbon sequestration in shaded coffee systems was, on average, 1.8 times greater than coffee monocultures.
Results unveiled a wealth of benefits provided by shaded coffee systems, in which lie the potential to tackle the effects of climate change on production through this as a nature-based solution. Shaded agroforestry systems not only sequestered significantly more carbon than monocultures, but they also created microclimates that favoured coffee plants during the intense dry season. Shade offered relief with lower air temperatures and higher relative humidity, protecting the delicate coffee plants. Furthermore, the shaded coffee systems demonstrated increased water-use efficiency without sacrificing productivity. This breakthrough suggests the potential to implement significant reductions in irrigation rates while maintaining competitive coffee yields.
Contrary to the perception of trade-offs between environmental and socio-economic benefits, the shaded coffee systems proved to be a win-win solution. Not only were they more productive than monocultures, but they also generated higher profits for farmers. Diversification of the coffee growing system enhanced economic resilience during periods of low coffee prices, as farmers were shielded from volatile market changes. These findings highlight the compatibility of ecological benefits with improved socio-economic performance through nature-based solutions.
This research provided key insights into coffee agroforestry as a nature-based solution that meets the needs of both people and the planet. Insights gained from this study can inform the development of locally relevant and context-specific policies for coffee farmers in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Additionally, these findings can aid the development of decision-making frameworks for agroforestry, such as the Oxford-led HARP Toolkit.
As the Central Highlands of Vietnam grapples with the challenges of climate change, coffee agroforestry emerges as a beacon of hope. By integrating trees and crops, we can mitigate and adapt to future climates, while simultaneously supporting the local community and economy, and reduce environmental degradation. This research demonstrates a pathway for sustainable coffee farming, emphasizing the importance of balancing ecology and the economy.
Paper: “Investigating the synergies and trade-offs between environmental and socio-economic outcomes for coffee agroforestry systems in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.”
With thanks to The Tropical Agriculture Association (TAA) and EuroFins Foundation, who provided grants to facilitate this key research.
Related research projects:
Exploring the role of nature-based solutions for social-ecological resilience
