Adaptation to Climate Change by Smallholder Coffee Producers in Latin America

Abstract

Smallholder coffee farmers in Latin America are already being impacted by and adapting to climate change. Our client, Counter Culture Coffee, a coffee roaster that sources from coffee cooperatives throughout Latin America and around the world, has a commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing. As such, CCC seeks to better understand the viability of potential adaptation strategies in order to support their partners in developing resilient livelihood strategies and ensuring sustained, high-quality coffee production. We conducted participatory action research with two partner coffee cooperatives in Guatemala and Peru to determine which adaptation strategies were most desirable and feasible. Methods included key actor and cooperative leader interviews, focus groups with cooperative members, and transect walks. Based on analysis of this data, we identified five potential climate change adaptation strategies and the financial, human, natural, physical, and social capitals required to implement them. We provided recommendations on the viability of each strategy.