Regenerative practices

As part of our Sustainability Strategy, Volcafe promotes regenerative practices that address the impact of climate change on coffee cultivation.

We are already working with partners to increase our understanding and to mitigate climate change risks in key coffee regions, including the effects of temperature fluctuations, flooding, droughts and frosts.

We want to do more and go further to find root-cause solutions to environmental issues that we can deliver in coffee origins to protect livelihoods and markets. 

Volcafe understands that coffee's future is intrinsically linked to mitigating the effects of a changing climate. Coffee farmers are already seeing the impacts on their crops. At the same time, we know that coffee farms can be a model for regenerative agriculture, reducing the need for costly chemical inputs while safeguarding local ecology.

To strengthen our efforts on climate change and the promotion of regenerative practices, Volcafe has formed numerous partnerships. These include: 

• CATIE: Volcafe began working with this Costa Rican research and training institute in March 2021 to develop a sustainable agroforestry programme for coffee farmers. Initially focussed on pilots in Costa Rica and Peru, in 2022 the partnership was expanded to include more origins in Africa, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific.
• Cool Farm Alliance: After a successful test run in Colombia, in 2022 Volcafe joined the Cool Farm Alliance in all 15 origin countries where we work. Through this partnership, Volcafe and the coffee farmers it works with are able to use the Cool Farm Tool, an online calculator that assesses the greenhouse gas, water, and biodiversity impacts of farming. 
• dss⁺: Volcafe and dss⁺ are working together to devise and implement a global carbon accounting drive across Volcafe's 25+ origin and destination offices. Drawing on its experience with integrating climate action into business operations, dss⁺ will support Volcafe in developing a carbon reduction and removal plan.
• Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW): Volcafe partnered with researchers and scientists from the prestigious Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) to develop a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool for coffee, enabling us to better understand the 'cradle to grave' impact of coffee produced in different settings.

In addition to advising on sustainable farming techniques, Volcafe often provides coffee seedlings to growers, helping to rejuvenate their farms. Image: Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd

Volcafe Way field team members provide guidance to farmers on regenerative and good agricultural practices. Image: Molinos de Honduras

One of our projects in Costa Rica is converting coffee pulp – formerly a waste product – into compost that is distributed to farmers. Image: Volcafe Costa Rica