Guatemala's Coffee Farmers Cultivate Resilience Through Science and Collaboration – CoffeeTalk

Israel Vazquez Diaz, known as don Israel, has been cultivating coffee in Guatemala’s highlands since childhood. With over 54 years of experience, he passionately engages in the intricate processes of harvesting, sorting, and drying coffee. He sells his organic coffee through ASOBAGRI, a cooperative of around 1,900 small-scale producers. However, fluctuating prices, climate changes, and pest pressures have challenged profitability.

In 2022, don Israel participated in a soil analysis study conducted by researchers from the University of Vermont (UVM), with funding from the Gund Institute for Environment. This project aimed to provide small-scale farmers with essential technical assistance, as public agricultural extension services are scarce and costly in the region. The study incorporated standard soil tests along with vital indicators of soil health. Using a Participatory Action Research approach, local technical staff collaborated in data collection and interpretation, ensuring that recommendations were accessible without requiring extensive training.

The results of the soil analysis prompted reevaluation of common agricultural practices. Some plots were found to be less acidic than previously believed, challenging the advice to apply lime. High organic matter levels in certain areas encouraged experimentation with liquid fertilizers. The project shifted farmers’ methods by focusing on data-driven discussions, enhancing their problem-solving skills alongside technical knowledge.

Following the Catalyst Project’s conclusion in 2024, the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) initiated the Iniciativa Horizontes, a collaborative endeavor to promote regenerative agricultural practices. CRS’s funding supported cover crop investigations in recently replanted coffee plots, aiming to improve soil health while mitigating erosion risks. The use of cover crops such as sweet potato, Vetiver grass, jack bean, and pigeon pea is tested across six farms, with a goal of demonstrating measurable effects on soil and productivity.

Farmers like Francisco Sebastian Leon and don Israel, involved in these experiments, have reported notable improvements in soil conditions, moisture retention, and overall fertility. Don Israel is particularly motivated not only by his own learning but by the desire to share successful practices with fellow farmers in Guatemala. This transformative approach aims for broader benefits across the coffee-growing community, heightening both environmental resilience and agricultural yields.

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