Arabica coffee revenue could grow by R$22 billion per year in Brazil

Unprecedented study investigated the effect of inserting managed bee colonies on coffee farms in São Paulo and Minas Gerais

30.10.2024 | 09:40 (UTC -3)
Marcos Vincent
Photo: Gustavo Facanalli
Photo: Gustavo Facanalli

A study conducted by scientists from Embrapa Meio Ambiente (SP) and Syngenta Crop Protection in Brazil investigated the effect of introducing managed bee colonies into conventional coffee farms. The focus was on the yield, quality and market value of Arabica coffee. The results indicated that assisted pollination increases coffee productivity and quality, which could consequently increase annual Arabica revenue by up to R$22 billion. The data showed that the presence of the introduced bees increased productivity by 16,5%, from 32,5 to 37,9 bags per hectare.

Coffee quality, assessed by the sensory rating of the beverage, increased by 2,4 points, promoting the classification of beans from regular to special on some farms. This leap in quality increased the value of the bag by 13,15%, which represents a gain of US$ 25,40 per bag (see details below). The research therefore pointed to the fact that assisted pollination can generate significant economic impacts on coffee farming, making bee management a powerful tool for improving the profitability of coffee growers.

Scientists also monitored the health of colonies of stingless native bees exposed to one of the most widely used systemic insecticides for controlling crop pests, thiamethoxam. The Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (Esalq/USP), AgroBee, the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Natural England and Eurofins collaborated on the study.

The unprecedented study was conducted between 2021 and 2023 on farms in São Paulo and Minas Gerais, the main Arabica coffee-producing regions in Brazil. The study analyzed the introduction of Africanized bee hives (Apis mellifera) in coffee production, comparing the results with areas where pollination was carried out only by wild insects.

Bee management increases profits

Unlike previous studies, which focused only on wild pollinators, this experiment controlled the number of bees managed in the fields, allowing a direct comparison between areas with and without assisted pollination. The hives were placed at one end of each field, while the other end relied only on natural pollination. The objective was to determine whether, under real conditions in Brazilian coffee farming, increasing the number of pollinators could generate tangible gains in productivity and quality.

Africanized bees played a crucial role in improving results. The introduction of beehives not only increased the quantity of beans per hectare, but also positively influenced the quality of the final product. The increase in sensory rating, which takes into account characteristics such as flavor and aroma, allowed part of the production to achieve specialty coffee status, a market with substantially higher added value.

For Cristiano Menezes, a researcher at Embrapa and one of the study's leaders, these results show the potential for integrating pollinator management with large-scale coffee farming. "The use of managed bees demonstrates a clear opportunity for economic gain, while also contributing to more sustainable and efficient agriculture," he said.

Impact: How assisted pollination can transform the coffee sector

Based on the study data, the researchers calculated that if all Brazilian coffee farmers adopted assisted pollination technology, coffee production in the country could be transformed. Considering the results of the research and the current values ​​estimated by the National Supply Company (Conab) for coffee production in 2024, there would be a 16,5% increase in productivity with the presence of bees, which would represent an additional 6,5 million bags, raising total production to 46,1 million bags.

There would also be a significant impact on market value: the price of a bag of coffee would reach R$2.014,90, an increase of 13,15%. In total, the Brazilian coffee market would jump from the current R$70,490 billion to R$92,919 billion, with a total economic impact estimated at R$22,429 billion.

These figures demonstrate that assisted pollination is not only a viable strategy, but also an essential one for increasing coffee productivity and quality. Furthermore, it contributes to the preservation of pollinators, which play a crucial role in the balance of ecosystems and global food security.

Pollination and pest control, a possible coexistence

Photo: Gustavo Facanalli
Photo: Gustavo Facanalli

The study also investigated how the use of pesticides affects the health of beehives. The researchers focused on thiamethoxam, a systemic insecticide widely used in coffee cultivation. Six farms that use the pesticide conventionally and two organic farms participated in the analysis. Three bee health parameters were monitored: brood production, larval mortality and foraging activity. Assessments were carried out at five time points: before flowering; immediately after; and 45, 75 and 105 days later.

Although pesticide residues were found in pollen and nectar collected by bees, the results indicate that the application rates of thiamethoxam, via soil irrigation, did not interfere with the health parameters of the colonies. This reinforces the viability of a coordinated management between assisted pollination and pest control, as long as the use of pesticides follows the technical recommendations.

Menezes emphasizes that the integration between bee colony management and the balanced use of pesticides is essential to minimize risks to non-target organisms. He points out that, although these practices are discussed in the scientific literature, their joint application in the field is very scarce, making it difficult for farmers to make decisions and formulate effective public policies to protect pollinators. “This interdisciplinary study seeks to fill this gap by assessing the impact of bee management on coffee productivity, which is crucial for millions of rural families,” he emphasizes.

The researcher also emphasizes the importance of balancing pest control with the preservation of pollinators. "The producer can have the best possible pollination, but if pests such as the coffee berry borer, rust or leaf miner are not controlled, the effort will be in vain," he warned. According to him, the key lies in the judicious use of pesticides, which must guarantee the protection of the crop without compromising the health of pollinators.

Denise Alves, a researcher at Esalq/USP and co-author of the study, says that the results represent a significant incentive for coffee farmers to adopt more sustainable practices. "Bees are a link between agriculture and environmental conservation. Proper management of pollinators, combined with efficient pest control, can reduce dependence on external inputs and promote more sustainable agriculture," she said.

Sustainability and innovation in coffee farming

The large-scale adoption of managed pollination would represent an excellent opportunity for the beekeeping sector. Approximately 6 million Africanized bee hives would be needed to cover the entire area planted with Arabica coffee in Brazil, considering the density used in the study of four hives per hectare. For native bees, the number of hives would be even higher – approximately 15 million. This would open up new opportunities for the expansion of beekeeping in the country, creating a synergy between agricultural production and beekeeping, with both economic and environmental benefits.

Guilherme Sousa, founder and CEO of AgroBee, a startup that connects beekeepers with farmers, known as the Uber of bees, highlights that “assisted pollination in crops such as coffee currently represents the greatest sustainable production potential to be explored in Brazilian agriculture”. This practice not only optimizes production, but also contributes to the conservation of biodiversity, showing that agricultural innovation can be an ally of sustainability.

Jenifer Ramos, a postdoctoral fellow at Embrapa and also an author of the study, believes that the research offers robust data to support agricultural policies that integrate sustainability and high productivity. "The potential of pollinators goes beyond the agricultural aspect, also affecting the environment and society. This practice improves the quality of the agroecosystem and generates economic benefits that encompass the entire production chain," she explains.

She emphasizes the innovative nature of the study, which, for the first time, quantified the direct impact of managed bees on Arabica coffee production under real field conditions. "Although we knew the importance of natural pollinators, the results regarding the insertion of more hives exceeded our expectations," she emphasizes.

In a competitive sector like coffee, practices such as assisted pollination become a strategic advantage. “In addition to increasing coffee production and quality, this technology promotes more sustainable and responsible agriculture, benefiting producers, consumers and the environment,” he concludes.

Photo: Gustavo Facanalli
Photo: Gustavo Facanalli

Benefits of assisted pollination from the producer's perspective

Gustavo José Facanali, an agricultural engineer and farmer who heads Facanali Cafés, reports on his positive experience with bee-assisted pollination. He cultivates 120 hectares in São Paulo and southern Minas Gerais and initially doubted the effectiveness of the technique, since coffee flowers self-fertilize by more than 80%.

However, when he participated in an experiment, the results surprised him. “In the areas where bees were introduced, productivity increased by 17%, from 110 to 128 bags per hectare. With the current price of coffee, this represents a gain of R$27 per hectare,” explained Facanali.

Stingless bees of the Mandaguari species were used on the property, introduced seven days before flowering and kept on the crop for 21 days. “During this period, we did not intervene in the area, which made management easier,” he says.

In addition to the increase in quantity, there were improvements in the quality of the coffee, with the score rising from 78-80 to 82 points. “This shows that assisted pollination not only increases production, but also improves the quality of the beans.”

Facanali also highlights the importance of technology in the face of climate change. “We are experiencing an unstable climate, which has led to losses in productivity. Assisted pollination can be a counterpoint to these challenges, helping to maintain profitability with sustainability,” he argued.

Convinced that the practice can be applied to other crops, he concludes: “Assisted pollination is a path of no return, showing that collaboration between agriculture and nature generates significant results. It is a sustainable solution that can benefit all coffee growing and other agricultural areas.”

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