Coffee sustainability in Costa Rica

Pacific Agroecology LLC contracted with the INCAE Business School and global coffee distributor ECOM to conduct an assessment of management practices in coffee plantations on biodiversity.

The study compared certified and non-certified farms, examining the effects of riparian buffers, tree cover, and shade tree diversity on butterflies and birds. Results indicated that bird species richness was higher in certified farms, while butterfly richness correlated with habitat heterogeneity regardless of certification status.

The study demonstrates how sustainability practices for premium coffee can have positive ecological benefits that can be marketed to environmentally conscious consumers.