Colombian coffee farmers embrace agroforestry to revitalize traditional growing methods

Colombia, the world’s third-largest coffee producer and leading grower of premium Arabica beans, is witnessing a growing shift toward agroforestry among its farmers. This sustainable farming approach integrates coffee cultivation with native forest systems, offering a promising solution to longstanding agricultural challenges in the country’s renowned coffee regions.

Coffee production has been central to Colombia’s identity and economy since commercial cultivation began in 1870. Today, the industry represents 22% of the national GDP and supports approximately 560,000 farms across the country. Despite this impressive scale, most operations remain small-scale enterprises that face significant technical and economic hurdles. According to industry data, only 5% of smallholder farmers operate with technical efficiency, struggling with poor agronomic practices including inappropriate fertilizer and pesticide use, inadequate pest monitoring, and substandard production conditions.

The traditional “cafetal zone” spanning the departments of Risalda, Caldas, Antioquia, and Quindío is now becoming a testing ground for agroforestry systems. These methods involve interplanting coffee within existing native forest cover, creating a more sustainable and resilient growing environment. Agricultural engineer Arlisson Neussa and other experts are working directly with farmers to implement these forest-integrated systems, which can help address pest management issues like the coffee berry borer while preserving the cultural heritage that makes Colombian coffee world-renowned. This shift represents not just an agricultural evolution, but a return to more traditional, environmentally harmonious farming practices.