Santa Catarina coast has potential for specialty coffee production

Recent research carried out by Epagri, the Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC) and the Instituto Federal do Sul de Minas indicates that the coast of Santa Catarina has suitable conditions for the cultivation of Coffea arabica, in the context of family farming, with high added economic and environmental value.

One of the results of this study was the publication, by Epagri/Ciram, of a map of areas potentially suitable for growing Arabica coffee, considering the climate and environmental conditions of the Santa Catarina coast.

According to Epagri researcher Valeria Pohlmann, the institution is submitting a project to FAPESC that will allow climate risk analyses for coffee cultivation in the state. "It will be possible to officially recommend suitable and unsuitable areas for coffee cultivation in Santa Catarina," she states.

Additionally, an experiment is planned in Tubarão to evaluate different cultivars in various production systems: full sun and shaded agroforestry. The goal is to analyze plant productivity and adaptation, considering the diversity of family farming strategies.

Technical training and exchange of experiences

In August, Epagri offered a Coffee Production Course to 22 company technicians at its Tubarão Training Center. The course aimed to deepen their knowledge of shade and intercropping, harvesting and post-harvest practices, and soil conservation management.

During the training, participants visited a family farm in Treze de Maio, applying pruning and management techniques in an orchard shaded by native trees, focusing on coffee plantation health, productivity, and longevity. The course was taught by IFC Araquari professors Fabrício Moreira Sobreira and Fernando Prates Bisso, and coordinated by Epagri extension agent Diego Adilio da Silva.

For Fábio Zambonim, a researcher at Epagri, these actions are essential to updating technical knowledge and reviving Santa Catarina's coffee industry, uniting tradition, science, and economic and environmental sustainability.

Coffee on the Santa Catarina coast: history and potential

Coffee production in Santa Catarina began in the late 18th century, notable for its quality, albeit in smaller volumes than in the Southeast. In the 1960s, national eradication policies reduced commercial production, shifting the activity to subsistence farming.

A 2017 IBGE survey indicated that small-scale crops persist in 15 coastal municipalities, highlighting the crop's adaptability to the local climate and terrain. Preferably grown under the shade of Atlantic Forest species, coastal Arabica coffee thrives, while selective harvesting ensures ripe fruit and distinctive quality, suited to the family environment.

Specialty coffee as an alternative source of income

Specialty coffee cultivation on the Santa Catarina coast offers significant economic potential, especially when combined with rural tourism, direct-to-consumer sales, and small gourmet roasting operations. According to researchers, this initiative adds value to family production, revives traditional practices, and contributes to environmental conservation.

"The demand for technical information on shade-grown coffee is growing in the region. The expectation is that specialty coffee production will become an economic reality for family farmers in Santa Catarina," Valeria emphasizes.