Growing the Future - New Ways to Produce Coffee in the Tropics

Rethinking Coffee:

Agroforestry in a Changing Climate

By CLICA - Climate & Coffee

In the heart of the tropics, where coffee has long flourished under the sun and rain, producers are facing a new challenge: how to grow coffee in a changing climate without depleting the land or compromising future harvests. As temperatures rise, rains shift, and biodiversity shrinks, traditional monoculture coffee systems are proving increasingly fragile. But a quiet revolution is taking place across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia—a movement rooted not in technology, but in the wisdom of the forest.

Welcome to the world of agroforestry.

Rooted in tradition - agroforestry is the new way forward.

What Is Agroforestry?

Agroforestry is the practice of growing crops, including coffee, within a diverse system of trees, shrubs, and perennial plants. It mimics natural forest ecosystems and restores ecological balance. In these systems, coffee grows under the shade of native trees, alongside fruit trees, nitrogen-fixing plants, and medicinal herbs.

Agroforestry allows a regenerative future.

This is not a new idea. For centuries, Indigenous communities have grown food within forested landscapes. What’s different now is the recognition that agroforestry is not just a cultural tradition—it’s an essential strategy for climate resilience and sustainable coffee production.

Why the Tropics Need New Coffee Models

The tropics are home to the vast majority of the world's coffee farms. But these regions are also on the front lines of climate change:

In the shade of the forest, coffee grows richer and more flavorful.

• Rising temperatures push coffee out of its optimal altitude ranges.

• Unpredictable rain cycles affect flowering and harvests.

• Monoculture plantations degrade soil, reduce biodiversity, and increase vulnerability to pests.

Agroforestry offers a powerful alternative by creating microclimates, improving soil health, and supporting pollinators and biodiversity.

It’s a system where shade is an asset, not a problem. Where productivity comes from balance, not chemical inputs.

Coffee Grown Like a Forest

Imagine a coffee farm that looks like a jungle: towering trees offering dappled light, birds nesting overhead, bananas and avocados growing alongside coffee shrubs. Beneath the surface, mycorrhizal fungi feed the roots, and organic matter builds the soil like a sponge.

This is agroforestry in action. These systems:

• Reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides

• Store carbon in both soil and biomass

• Build resilience to heatwaves, drought, and extreme rainfall

• Diversify income with timber, fruit, honey, or medicinal plants

Farmers practicing agroforestry are not just growing coffee—they are cultivating ecosystems that feed both people and the planet.

Agroforestry boosts financial sustainability through crop diversity and long-term resilience.

A Global Shift in the Making

Seed by seed, tree nurseries grow the future.

From smallholder farms in Brazil and Colombia to cooperatives in Uganda and Indonesia, agroforestry is gaining momentum. NGOs, research centers, and regenerative coffee brands are supporting the transition with training, seeds, and new market connections.

Still, challenges remain: agroforestry requires time, patience, and long-term thinking. But for farmers willing to invest in the future, the payoff is resilience.

Coffee That Connects Climate and Culture

At CLICA, we believe coffee can be a bridge: between climate action and agriculture, between modern challenges and ancient wisdom. Agroforestry is one of the most promising paths to producing coffee in a way that honors both the land and the people who care for it.

It invites us to rethink coffee not just as a product, but as part of a living system.

The future of coffee is green, biodiverse, and deeply rooted in the forest.

And that future is already growing.

The future must be regenerative!

References

1. Schroth, G., & Sinclair, F. L. (2003). Trees, Crops, and Soil Fertility: Concepts and Research Methods. CABI Publishing.

2. Noponen, M. R., et al. (2013). "Shade tree diversity enhances coffee production and quality in agroforestry systems in Ethiopia." Agroforestry Systems, 87(5), 1129–1141.

3. Vaast, P., & Somarriba, E. (2014). "Trade-offs between crop intensification and ecosystem services: The role of agroforestry in cocoa and coffee agroecosystems." Agroforestry Systems, 88, 947–956.

4. Perfecto, I., & Vandermeer, J. (2015). Coffee Agroecology: A New Approach to Understanding Agricultural Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Sustainable Development. Routledge.

5. Bunn, C., Läderach, P., & Rivera, O. O. (2019). "Climate smart agriculture in coffee: Lessons from climate change adaptation projects in Colombia, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica." CIAT/CGIAR Technical Briefs.