Apuí, Brazil

This project combines the reforestation of one of Brazil’s most deforested areas with the creation of commercially viable regenerative agroforestry coffee business cases with more than 30 local farmers, with its potential to scale to 500 farmers.

The local Brazilian NGO Idesam is planting trees throughout coffee plantations increasing yields, improving livelihoods and preventing further deforestation in the area. A first pilot has already been implemented with promising results. Together with reNature, the plan is now to fine-tune the existing plot and implement an education facility for local capacity-building.

Funding the Future of Amazon

reNature got €300.000,00 funding from LB Foundation to support this ambitious & impactful project of Idesam. This way, reNature will bring value through technical assistance, project management, impact measurement as well as stakeholder engagement for potential impact investments & carbon traders. The goal of this collaboration is to make regenerative agroforestry a successful business case for tackling deforestation in Amazonia.

Why cattle if we have coffee?

In Apuí, coffee is traditionally cultivated in monocultures leading to land degradation and decreasing yields. The production fell to an average of 8 sacks per hectare per year which is much lower than the municipality’s potential. This, together with lack of incentives, technical support, and challenges in marketing caused farmers to gradually abandon coffee cultivation. Producers have started to invest in cattle instead, causing further deforestation. Apuí is now the second most deforested municipality in the state of Amazonas.

Intervention

Combining reNature’s Model School and current agroforestry models developed, coffee farmers will be supported in adopting and maintaining agroforestry practices. Further, the existing pilot farm will be assessed and fine-tuned. This Model School will support farmers with knowledge and capacities to execute the transition and making the link to the market and existing processing facilities.

Main Objective

The main objective is to counteract deforestation by replacing pasture lands with productive coffee forests, while allowing producers to generate increased, sustainable income.

Inspiration is key

The project will showcase the benefits of Regenerative Agroforestry as a means to reforest the Amazon, increase farm productivity and enhance the coffee value on a large scale. This will draw the attention of the general public and other farmers and inspire them to adopt similar approaches and raise awareness. IDESAM further promotes its practices on various policy levels in Brazil.

Agroforestry Coffee

In agroforestry systems, the coffee plants are intercropped with native tree species such as ipê, andiroba, or jatobá. These will provide necessary shading and improve the regulation of the local microclimate. Moisture is retained better, nutrient and water cycles are being restored, and soil fertility naturally improves. Currently, a simple PET bottle is used with detergent and alcohol to control pests, replacing previously used chemical pesticides. Thus, the agroforestry coffee systems are organic and benefit local biodiversity and the climate. Further, increased productivity will reduce the need for farmers to clear new forest areas for farming.

Increase Farmers income

Through improved soil fertility and tree shading, the coffee production will improve in both productivity and quality. Existing pilots have already doubled yields from 8 to 17 bags per ha, decreased pest-related losses from 30% to 1.8%, and increased the farmers’ annual income by around 300%. The project also enables market access, sophisticated processing, organic certification, and marketing support benefitting the farmers.

Social Impact

The project expects to improve the livelihoods of up to 200 smallholder farmers and their families over the next 3 years. Moreover, it will enhance the recreational value of the area and diminish the use of chemicals and their detrimental health impacts.

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