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MILAN – Supporting smallholder farmers to adapt to climate change is central to the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung. This is the reason why they are honored as the implementing partner of the initiative for coffee&climate (c&c) that the c&c toolbox – developed with and for farming communities – has received two iF DESIGN AWARDS, including the prestigious Gold Award for User Interface.
This recognition confirms the reality of the field: tools that help farmers respond to the impacts of climate change need to be easy to understand, directly usable, and tailored to their everyday challenges.
The c&c toolbox meets these needs by being fully visual, offline-capable, free to use and designed with input from farming communities themselves.
It gives farmers practical guidance on issues such as managing water scarcity, preventing soil erosion, and improving crop resilience in changing weather conditions, without requiring a permanent internet connection or advanced literacy.
For more info about the toolbox click here.
Case study: what the numbers reveal in Latin America
In the long-term ICP (International Coffee Partners) projects across Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Brazil, HRNS applied SROI (Social Return on Investment) to evaluate five years of work. The results were powerful: for every dollar invested, participating farming households in Brazil saw 2.3 dollars and in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador even 3.7 in return – through increased productivity, better produce prices, and cost savings from joint purchasing via strengthened producer organizations.
This wasn’t theoretical. It was backed by real data: farm-level surveys, M&E systems, and farmer field books that tracked progress over time. The outcomes spoke to the value of investing in farmer training, local leadership, and sustainable agriculture. Showing that building capacity yields long-term dividends.
To remain on topic, Michael Opitz, Managing Director HRNS joined at the recent conference “Transformation in Times of Geopolitical Change” the panel on sustainable and resilient global coffee production systems.
His message: meaningful transformation in the coffee sector starts with smallholder farmers and requires more than good agricultural practices.
What’s key to transforming the coffee sector today?
“Transformation is a dynamic, multi-layered process. It’s not just about farming techniques. It’s about improving the livelihoods of smallholder families. They are the ones who decide what truly works for their future. Listening to them, understanding their realities, and involving them directly is essential to any meaningful change”
Why are collaboration and data so critical?
“Because no single actor can manage this complexity alone. We need linked interventions across sectors and organizations. And we need high-quality, accessible data to guide decisions. That’s how we can align efforts, monitor progress, and adjust in real time”.
How can we scale transformation effectively?
“We must use what we already know more strategically. That means thinking creatively, acting beyond silos, and focusing on impact from the start. Financing must follow this logic too. Designed to support outcomes that truly matter on the ground”.
