Starbuck's Conservation Coffees
Starbucks and Conservation International Protect Sensitive Ecosystem
Joint project provides support for farmers to provide shade-grown coffee from the rainforests of El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas while protecting its environment.
Combining corporate financial support from Starbucks with environmental expertise by Conservation International, the rainforests of El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve are being sustainably utilized to produce shade grown coffee. Farmers benefit from higher prices for their coffee. Rainforests are nurtured rather than destroyed. But how much is it really costing Starbucks?
Why Shade Grown?
Since the 1970s when pressure to produce more coffee forced changes in traditional growing techniques, there has been a shift to intensive coffee production in open plantations. Forests have been destroyed and tons of pesticides and fertilizers used to create these sun coffee plantations. The push for large plantations is a major contributor to Latin America’s record high deforestation rate. This deforestation has added to the many challenges already facing neo-tropical migratory birds, the common birds of North American summers.
By returning to shade grown coffee, farmers save habitat for the birds, and many other rainforest animals while reducing the need for pesticides and fertilizers. The support of a large coffee buying corporation such as Starbucks is important in making these environmentally sound programs a possibility for the people living in or near critical wildlife habitat.
The Conservation Coffee Program
From the initial efforts in the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas the Starbucks program has expanded with about 7000 farmers involved in this area of Mexico. To become part of the program farmers must be legally registered as a cooperative with the government of Mexico, working toward organic certification, and using environmentally sound production practices.
Support by Conservation International includes regular visits to provide advice on everything from waste management to pest control. Business support includes planning assistance and labor relations. Most importantly, CI provides guidance on achieving organic farm status and maintaining ecologically sound practices.
Sister projects in other Latin American countries are helping to protect the Amazon rainforest borders and other sensitive habitat. The program has projects in Peru, Columbia, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.
The Bigger Picture
While all this certainly looks good, it is important to understand what the program really costs Starbucks. The company, with revenues of 8 billion USD in 2006, invested 200,000 USD in 2003, much of it by paying higher prices for the Conservation Coffee.
Their expanded commitment of 500,000 USD each year for three years starting in 2004 shows further good faith but the higher prices paid to the coffee growers appear to be passed on to the consumer. The Shade Grown Mexican retails for 13.95 USD whereas standard coffees such as their House Blend are sold for 9.95 USD.
It would be wrong to say that Starbucks isn’t trying to show some corporate responsibility. Their environmental and community programs are a nod in the right direction. And the public can support their efforts by buying the socially and environmentally responsible coffees. But it would also be wrong to paint Starbucks as an environmental hero.
