#Honduras #J.M. Smucker Co. #Julius Meinl #Tchibo #Western Honduras

Building a Climate-Smart Coffee Region in Western Honduras

In a significant initiative aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture, coffee companies Julius Meinl, The J.M. Smucker Co., and Tchibo, in collaboration with the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung (HRNS), have announced a joint project to develop a climate-smart coffee region in western Honduras. This endeavor, known as CSCR Honduras, is expected to enhance the livelihoods of local coffee farmers while simultaneously restoring ecosystems in the region. The project is now open to additional partners willing to contribute to this collaborative effort.

Objectives and Impact

Set to run from 2025 to 2029, the CSCR project will focus on the Ocotepeque, Copán, and Lempira departments. It aims to directly support 4,000 families of smallholder farmers, impacting approximately 6,000 hectares of coffee-growing land and involving around 20 farmer organizations. This ambitious initiative comes at a critical time as the western part of Honduras faces increasing challenges due to climate change, including irregular rainfall, prolonged droughts, and rising temperatures, reducing coffee yields by up to 30% and pushing cultivation into ecologically sensitive mountainous areas.

As noted by Theresa Ruperti, program leader at HRNS, the region's ecological richness is coupled with its vulnerability to climate-related threats. The collaboration seeks to align coffee productivity with community resilience and conservation of ecosystems.

Transforming Coffee Landscapes

The project builds upon 15 years of on-the-ground experience gained through the Coffee and Climate initiative, of which all three collaborating coffee companies are members. CSCR Honduras will leverage proven tools for climate adaptation, such as soil and water conservation, coffee agroforestry, erosion control, microclimate monitoring, and low-fuel stoves alongside water-saving devices.

The primary goal of this project is to transform vulnerable coffee landscapes, particularly in communities located in buffer zones of protected areas like Celaque, Erapuca, Las Minas, and Volcán Pacayita, into biodiversity-friendly and climate-smart systems. Furthermore, the project aims to integrate financial education, women's leadership, and youth entrepreneurship as vital components of its strategy.

Evaluation and Transparency

To ensure transparency and effective impact measurement, the project will rely on recognized frameworks such as Enveritas for monitoring and evaluation, facilitating adaptive learning throughout its execution. Gathering diverse stakeholders, including other roasters, the partnership fosters a pre-competitive approach to tackle shared challenges collaboratively.

Governance and Community Involvement

A unique aspect of the CSCR Honduras project is its governance model, which is coordinated through inter-municipal platforms (Higuito and MAPANCE). This arrangement aligns municipalities, civil society, and local actors toward common climate goals. The Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE) will play a crucial technical role by providing training, research, and farmer monitoring.

Moreover, the project will create a regional community of practice to coordinate learning and innovation among 25 local actors, with technical support from IHCAFE. As Carina Needham, the sustainability director at Julius Meinl, emphasizes, the core mission of the company is to generate a positive impact across its entire value chain, centered around the pillars of origin, the planet, and humanity.

Conclusion

As this transformative project commences, it stands as a pivotal step in creating a sustainable future for coffee farming in Central America. By enhancing the resilience of communities against climate change and fostering biodiversity, CSCR Honduras could serve as a model for similar initiatives worldwide. Supporting local livelihoods while embracing climate-smart practices is not just essential for the farmers; it is imperative for global sustainability efforts that benefit both people and the planet.