Building a Climate-Smart Coffee Region in Western Honduras for Sustainable Growth
In a remarkable effort to combat climate change and enhance sustainability, several coffee companies including Julius Meinl, The J.M. Smucker Co., and Tchibo, along with the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung (HRNS), have announced a groundbreaking initiative to develop a climate-smart coffee region in Western Honduras. This collaborative venture, set to span four years from 2025 to 2029, will directly assist approximately 4,000 smallholder farming families across the Ocotepeque, Copán, and Lempira regions. The overarching goal is to transform these communities into resilient and sustainable coffee producers while restoring local ecosystems that have been degraded by climate change.
The project, aptly named CSCR Honduras (Climate-Smart Coffee Region Honduras), is open to other partners interested in joining this vital initiative. The focus will be on enhancing the livelihoods of small farmers, restoring ecosystems, and building local institutional capacities. The project will engage around 20 farmer organizations and cover an estimated 6,000 hectares of coffee-growing land, demonstrating a significant commitment to sustainable agriculture practices.
Leveraging 15 years of expertise through the coffeeclimate initiative, which the participating companies are part of, CSCR Honduras will implement proven strategies for climate adaptation on a larger scale. Key strategies include soil and water conservation practices, agroforestry systems in coffee cultivation, erosion control, and microclimate monitoring. Additionally, the introduction of innovative household technologies such as energy-efficient stoves and water-saving devices aims to further empower local communities.
The project targets vulnerable coffee-growing areas, particularly those located in buffer zones of protected regions like Celaque, Erapuca, Las Minas, and Volcán Pacayita. By transforming these areas into biodiversity-friendly and climate-resilient systems, the initiative will not only secure livelihoods but also regenerate vital ecosystems. Another critical aspect of the project is promoting financial literacy, empowering women in leadership roles, and fostering youth entrepreneurship, creating a holistic approach to community development.
Theresa Ruperti, Program Manager for HRNS at CSCR Honduras, highlighted the ecological diversity of Western Honduras while lamenting the increasing threats posed by climate change: "Irregular rainfall, prolonged droughts, and rising temperatures have reduced yields by up to 30 percent. This has pushed coffee farming into ecologically sensitive highland areas." She emphasized that the project aims to merge coffee productivity, community resilience, and ecosystem preservation, positioning Western Honduras as a model region for climate-friendly and biodiversity-promoting coffee production across Central America.
As Carina Needham, Global Sustainability Director at Julius Meinl 1862 GmbH noted, "This project represents an exciting milestone for us as it is our first landscape initiative under our Generations Programme. We’re particularly proud of the collaborative spirit at the heart of this venture, working alongside diverse stakeholders, including other coffee roasters, to address shared challenges through a pre-competitive, landscape-wide approach." Needham expressed enthusiasm about the potential for shared learning and innovative solutions that ensure a future where coffee, communities, and nature thrive together.
A significant aspect of CSCR Honduras is its governance model, coordinated via inter-community platforms (Higuito and MAPANCE) that align communities, civil society, and local actors around common climate goals. The Instituto Hondureño del Café (IHCAFE) will play a crucial technical role by training farmers, conducting research, and monitoring progress. Additionally, the project aims to establish a regional community of practice to facilitate learning and innovation among 25 local actors.
Founded in 1862, Julius Meinl is among the oldest coffee roasters globally and embodies the essence of Viennese coffeehouse culture. As a fifth-generation family business, it remains committed to making a positive impact across the entire value chain, focusing on sustainability centered around three pillars: origin, planet, and people. The CSCR Honduras project vividly illustrates this commitment, showcasing how collaborative efforts can lead to meaningful change in the fight against climate change.
For more details about this ambitious project and Julius Meinl’s broader sustainability efforts, visit their official website.
The project, aptly named CSCR Honduras (Climate-Smart Coffee Region Honduras), is open to other partners interested in joining this vital initiative. The focus will be on enhancing the livelihoods of small farmers, restoring ecosystems, and building local institutional capacities. The project will engage around 20 farmer organizations and cover an estimated 6,000 hectares of coffee-growing land, demonstrating a significant commitment to sustainable agriculture practices.
Leveraging 15 years of expertise through the coffeeclimate initiative, which the participating companies are part of, CSCR Honduras will implement proven strategies for climate adaptation on a larger scale. Key strategies include soil and water conservation practices, agroforestry systems in coffee cultivation, erosion control, and microclimate monitoring. Additionally, the introduction of innovative household technologies such as energy-efficient stoves and water-saving devices aims to further empower local communities.
The project targets vulnerable coffee-growing areas, particularly those located in buffer zones of protected regions like Celaque, Erapuca, Las Minas, and Volcán Pacayita. By transforming these areas into biodiversity-friendly and climate-resilient systems, the initiative will not only secure livelihoods but also regenerate vital ecosystems. Another critical aspect of the project is promoting financial literacy, empowering women in leadership roles, and fostering youth entrepreneurship, creating a holistic approach to community development.
Theresa Ruperti, Program Manager for HRNS at CSCR Honduras, highlighted the ecological diversity of Western Honduras while lamenting the increasing threats posed by climate change: "Irregular rainfall, prolonged droughts, and rising temperatures have reduced yields by up to 30 percent. This has pushed coffee farming into ecologically sensitive highland areas." She emphasized that the project aims to merge coffee productivity, community resilience, and ecosystem preservation, positioning Western Honduras as a model region for climate-friendly and biodiversity-promoting coffee production across Central America.
As Carina Needham, Global Sustainability Director at Julius Meinl 1862 GmbH noted, "This project represents an exciting milestone for us as it is our first landscape initiative under our Generations Programme. We’re particularly proud of the collaborative spirit at the heart of this venture, working alongside diverse stakeholders, including other coffee roasters, to address shared challenges through a pre-competitive, landscape-wide approach." Needham expressed enthusiasm about the potential for shared learning and innovative solutions that ensure a future where coffee, communities, and nature thrive together.
A significant aspect of CSCR Honduras is its governance model, coordinated via inter-community platforms (Higuito and MAPANCE) that align communities, civil society, and local actors around common climate goals. The Instituto Hondureño del Café (IHCAFE) will play a crucial technical role by training farmers, conducting research, and monitoring progress. Additionally, the project aims to establish a regional community of practice to facilitate learning and innovation among 25 local actors.
Founded in 1862, Julius Meinl is among the oldest coffee roasters globally and embodies the essence of Viennese coffeehouse culture. As a fifth-generation family business, it remains committed to making a positive impact across the entire value chain, focusing on sustainability centered around three pillars: origin, planet, and people. The CSCR Honduras project vividly illustrates this commitment, showcasing how collaborative efforts can lead to meaningful change in the fight against climate change.
For more details about this ambitious project and Julius Meinl’s broader sustainability efforts, visit their official website.
Topics Consumer Products & Retail）
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