research initiative june 2009
TRANSCRIPT
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!