PATROCÍNIO, Minas Gerais, Brazil – Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the coffee industry in Brazil. In 2024, the Brazil’s coffee production was estimated at 54.79 million 60kg bags, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.5% from the previous year, according to the National Supply Company (Conab). This minor decline is a result of adverse climatic conditions, such as prolonged droughts and extreme temperatures, which negatively impacted crops in several coffee-growing regions.
In the Cerrado Mineiro region, producers faced extended drought periods, with temperatures reaching close to 40°C, and the occurrence of frosts, all of which were major setbacks for the harvest.
According to Fernando Couto, agricultural engineer and SEBRAE/Educampo specialist at the Cerrado Coffee Growers Cooperative (Expocacer), these climate events led to a water deficit exceeding 400mm in some areas, causing irreversible losses in productivity. “In addition, high temperatures and frosts caused direct damage, such as the burning of productive branches, and indirect damage, including physiological disorders that reduced the plants’ productive potential,” Couto said.
In response to this scenario, Expocacer has been playing a leading role in implementing innovative and sustainable solutions to mitigate the climatic impacts and ensure the sustainability of coffee farming.
Innovation and sustainability
To face these challenges, Couto explained that Expocacer and its producers have been investing in technological solutions and integrated management practices, such as:
• Smart Irrigation: Modern localized irrigation systems equipped with soil moisture sensors and weather stations. The devices ensure efficient water use and enable more efficient management. Irrigated crops can produce up to 11 additional bags per hectare per year compared to non-irrigated areas.
• Regenerative Practices: The adoption of organic fertilizers, multifunctional microorganisms, and soil management techniques to promote root development and increase plant resistance to adverse conditions.
• Greenhouse Gas Mitigation: Initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, such as those implemented with the Brazilian GHG Protocol, promoted by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation’s Center for Sustainability Studies (FGVces). This initiative led Expocacer to become the first coffee cooperative in Brazil to earn such recognition, allowing the cooperative to track processes, align them with greenhouse gas reduction goals, and transparently share results to both national and international partners, as well as end consumers throughout the coffee supply chain.
Training and support for producers
Expocacer acts as a catalyst for solutions by providing technical support, access to technology, and training programs. A standout initiative is the Educampo Project, developed in partnership with Sebrae Minas. “The program offers specialized consultants to assist producers with property management, providing personalized diagnostics, crop monitoring, and the creation of annual production plans,” said Couto.
Désio Rodrigo, owner of Lidon Cachoeira Alta farm, is proof of the benefits of Educampo project. “With sustainable soil management and more strategic planning, we’ve been able to tackle challenges like droughts and frosts, achieving more solid results. The program helped us identify cost-saving opportunities, reduce pesticide use,” said Rodrigo.
The producer emphasizes that technical support was crucial for modernizing operations and improving production efficiency. “The consultants bring a broad perspective, covering everything from financial management to personalized agronomic solutions. This has allowed us to adopt cutting-edge technologies and better understand how each decision impacts farm profitability. Today, we’re more confident in facing climate challenges and have a more assertive plan for the future,” Rodrigo said.
About Expocacer
Created in 1993 and located in the city of Patrocínio, state of Minas Gerais, the Cerrado Coffee Growers Cooperative (Expocacer) promotes the quality of coffees and the work of its members in Brazil and worldwide through relevant social and environmental initiatives, and the economic development of the entire region. The cooperative’s infrastructure includes two warehouses with a capacity of over 1 million bags. Currently, it serves more than 740 producers, exporting to over 35 countries across 5 continents.
