Yara and illycaffè drive sustainability in coffee farming

In addition to quality and flavor, Brazilian coffee production gains another ingredient: sustainability. Studies conducted by Yara, a world leader in plant nutrition, with illycaffè, a leader in innovation in sustainability and producer relations, show that coffee growers can add even more value to the bean with practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprint. 

The experiment combined regenerative management practices widely used and accepted in coffee farming, such as the use of organic compost and cover crops between the rows, with the application of a complete nutritional program, which brings together agronomic knowledge, digital solutions and high-tech, low-carbon fertilizers - this is because Yara's factories have catalysts that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in fertilizer production by up to 60%, positively interfering with the results of the study with illycaffè. 

“Agriculture is responsible for approximately 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and of this share, the production and use of fertilizers account for 11%,” explains Marcelo Gobitta, Food Chain Manager at Yara Brazil. “The analyses produced with illycaffè reveal the significant potential of fertilizer to contribute to decarbonization, not only by reducing emissions, but by working the full potential of the soil, which is the great basis for regenerative agriculture. In other words, the input is crucial for the future of cleaner agriculture,” adds Gobitta. 

Through demonstration crops on nine farms in Minas Gerais, the study evaluated the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 harvests, brought important results from this production cycle and revealed an increase in productivity, quality, profitability and a reduction in the carbon footprint of the coffees produced.

• A 22% reduction in the carbon footprint of the coffees produced and a significant improvement in soil health, which plays a fundamental role in the resilience of the production system. This carbon footprint calculation is done using the “Cool Farm Tool” and compares the inputs used between treatments and productivity results.
• Increased productivity by 14% on already highly productive farms, raising the average from 48 bags per hectare to 55 bags per hectare. This led to an increase in profitability per hectare, including an increase in the quantity of quality coffee eligible to be supplied to illycaffè with a quality premium.
• Superior quality assessment, achieving SCA standard assessment scores with almost three points of gain, exceeding 84 points on average.

The results of these demonstration crops were analyzed using the digital platform “Champer”, launched by Yara in Brazil and Colombia in the first half of this year. The solution, which is initially focused on providing visibility into the performance of coffee plantations for roasters and the entire industry, offers a solid and accurate basis for implementing and monitoring regenerative practices. In practice, Champer works on three axes: an application for capturing data in the field; a customized dashboard based on the sustainability and production indicators of the digital solution; and qualitative insights based on the information collected. 

For Marcelo Gobitta, in addition to the practical results in the field, the sample in these demonstration crops highlights the importance of creating a positive ecosystem with the entire coffee value chain. “Large companies and traders have taken a strong stance to reduce the impacts from the field to the consumer’s cup and, in doing so, encourage transformation at all stages – which ends up making Brazilian coffee a success story for global agribusiness,” he concludes.