Watchdog Organization Coffee Watch Says Warning Bells Over Coffee-Linked Deforestation Shouldn't Be Ignored – CoffeeTalk

A Coffee Watch report highlights a worrying link between “massive deforestation” in Brazil and coffee farming, with experts predicting consumers will soon face rising coffee prices due to supply depletion. Brazil has lost over 11 million hectares of forest from 2001 to 2023—an area approximately the size of Honduras—illustrating the dire impact of coffee cultivation on global deforestation. As the leading exporter of coffee, accounting for one-third of the world’s supply, Brazil’s agriculture practices are central to this trend.

Coffee Watch director Etelle Higonnet emphasizes the urgent need for Brazil to reverse its deforestation trajectory, which poses not only a carbon and biodiversity crisis but also threatens agricultural productivity through altered rainfall patterns that lead to crop failures. Research shows that agriculture, which largely involves clearing forests for crops, is responsible for about three-quarters of global forest loss, with 5 million hectares being deforested annually. Notably, Brazil and Indonesia collectively contribute to 40% of the world’s tropical forest loss.

The implications of the coffee-deforestation nexus are particularly significant for consumers due to anticipated cost increases. Deforestation impacts weather patterns and yields; when burned or cleared, forests fail to provide necessary rainfall, leading to dryer conditions that harm coffee crops. These climate-related phenomena, exacerbated by human activity, cause droughts that can devastate coffee plants and their protective shade trees. For instance, intense drought in Brazil in 2024 resulted in severe coffee shortages that drove up global prices significantly.

Additionally, the practice of planting coffee in large monocultures reduces ecosystem biodiversity, placing stress on pollinators and soil health, which in turn further destabilizes food systems and affects coffee availability and pricing. Moreover, coffee cultivation consumes vast amounts of water and relies heavily on agrochemicals, posing health risks to farmers, consumers, and vital pollinator species.

In response to the environmental crisis, the European Union has introduced the Regulation on Deforestation-free Products, mandating businesses to ensure their products do not originate from or contribute to deforested areas. Under the leadership of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil has seen a reduction in deforestation rates, highlighting a renewed commitment to halting forest loss as a primary goal.

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