What is it?

The traditional method of growing coffee, under a canopy of shade trees and amid understory vegetation, has always been an environmentally friendly, sustainable industry.

In recent years, beginning in the '70s and accelerating into the '90s the US Agency for International Development began promoting conversion to "sun grown" coffee varieties in Latin America to dramatically increase crop yields and therefore boost farmers' income. Eventually between 30 and 70 percent of coffee producing land in Latin America was "technified."

Unfortunately, the intensive agricultural practices required to raise sun coffee result in higher costs to farmers, increased dependency on agrochemicals with more risks for workers, increased vulnerability to price fluctuation, and depletion of the soil. They have contributed to substantial deforestation in countries like Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico. The result has been a drastic reduction in species diversity, with steep declines in migratory bird populations. According to research done in Colombia and Mexico, sun farms have a tenth as many bird species as do shade holdings, whose diversity of species can rival that of the tropical forest itself. Robert Rice, of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird center, calls them "green deserts."

Recently scientists and environmental activists have begun to express concern about the environmental and economic effects, as well as the human consequences of these changes. There have been major steps taken by organizations like Conservation International, backed by large coffee buyers like Starbucks, to promote a return to traditional shade growing. Thanks to the superior taste of shade grown coffee, there is now a growing demand for it among consumers.

How do shade-grown crops benefit environment, farmers, and consumers?

Promotes biodiversity:

Shade plantations support great numbers of diverse species and provide a sanctuary for migratory birds.

Minimizes loss of habitat:

Forest and understory are preserved.

Promotes sustainability:

Good for both environment and business, helps small farmers to prosper, shade varieties live 10 times longer, produce higher quality beans with superior taste to sun grown coffees.

Uses fewer or no agrochemicals:

Therefore lower costs for farmers increased safety for workers, less contamination of water supplies.

What you can do?

Read more about Shade-grown coffee:

August 1999 article "Can Coffee Drinkers Save the Rain Forest?" by Jennifer B. Hall

Atlanta Audubon Society site: many links and articles on shade-grown coffee, migratory birds and related issues.

Support local merchants who sell Shade-grown.

Coffees marked "Peruvian organic," "Guatemalan Organic," "Mexican Organic," and "Haitian Bleu" are usually grown under bird-friendly conditions.

Call your coffee merchant.

Ask them to sell non-technified shade-grown coffee and tell them why.

Current suppliers of shade-grown coffee in the Santa Barbara area include Wild Birds Unlimited and many local coffee houses and natural food stores.

Website information contacts:
Chapter office address:
5679 Hollister Ave., Suite 5b
Goleta, CA 93117
805-964-1468
Chapter email: audubon@rain.org
Website by:
Technical Specialties
©Copyright 2000, Technical Specialties
Updated: July 2, 2002