Intervention in coffee sector in Africa – impact on economy and environment

The coffee sector in Africa stands at a crossroads in its history. Today there is a great opportunity, in a context of growing global demand and in the Asian one in particular, to reconstitute its productive potential. 

The coffee economy is a considerable issue because it is the first raw material for trade volume in the world before grain, and the second in value after oil.

The current global consumption of coffee is 140 million bags. By 2020 will exceed 175 million bags. There is a lack of 35 million bags, most of which will consist of robusta coffee,given the strong demand from Asia who consume mainly freeze-dried coffee made ​​mostly using the robusta quality. So Africa has all chances to become the leader of this vast market.

However, climate changes affect coffee production which is likely to be slowed down if initiatives are not taken quickly.

THE MAIN CHALLENGES IN THE COFFEE SECTOR IN AFRICA 

  1. A LOW PRODUCTION associated with the lack of knowledge of good agricultural practices (lack of interaction with the research centers).
  2. LACK OF COMPETITIVENESS due to poor performance in marketing, to a deficit in information exchange among professionals and lack of access to updated information (pricing, suppliers, etc.).
  3. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE of regionals coffee. Through lack of promotional activities, the largest buyers all over the world don’t know regionals coffee.
  4. THE WASTE GENERATED more and more in all phases of the coffee production process and its influence on the environment.
  5. INSUFFICIENT MECHANIZATION.

The climate change directly affects the coffee growing and makes the economic situation, prevailing in the developing countries, much more fragile. Actually, agriculture is one of the areas particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. It’s thus a cause and a victim of thischanges. In fact, agricultural activities are responsible for 12 % (percent) of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Untreated coffee biowaste becomes the source of methane and CO2  – both greenhouse gases. Today, residues of coffee processing (pulp, peel) are burned or thrown into rivers.

The situation in Africa is further aggravated by the extensive deforestation. Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and deforestation contribute up to 25-30% of total emissions.

The Institute’s action in the coffee field (and sometimes in cocoa) is to assume, from the countries concerned, an active role in the emergence of the circular economy. This is a way to fight against the depletion of our  natural resources,  to protect the environment and to support the economic development.

As the competitive agricultural production encourages the country’s development, we need to protect the agricultural sectors in Africa to stimulate economic growth across the continent. The Institute provides suitable solutions to deal with this challenges.

The Institute can assess, among other things, by a thorough analysis of the soil, the vulnerability of the plant (tree) to pathogens, and thereby establish a more suitable place for new plantations. The quality increase is achieved also by suppression of dominance of the coffee mineral taste, by treating the soils with natural and inexpensive processes.

OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS FOR AFRICA 

There are a number of reasons why coffee is today an important opportunity for Africa:

  • THE SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH EXPECTED in global demand in 2020.
  • PROFITABLE CULTIVATION FOR THE FARMERS through appropriate techniques based also on:

– THOROUGH ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS, which allows the assessment of the vulnerability of the plantation to pathogens and the determination of possible solutions,

– IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE SOIL, using inexpensive natural methods, which also allow to optimize the coffee production  and the taste improvement.

  • THE CREATION OF A GREAT ADDED VALUE, thanks to a LABEL which corresponds perfectly to the request of increasingly demanding consumer. It is clear that the qualitative impact induced, will have in the short term a significant effect on coffee price, and thus contribute to the improvement of all stakeholders’s living conditions in the coffee sector.
  • THE WEALTH AND EMPLOYMENT CREATION in rural areas throughout the region that contributes to:

– IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE FARMERS concerned, as well as for other local stakeholders,

– FOOD SECURITY through stabilization of household income.