Sustainable farming practices
Motivating local women coffee producers to adopt sustainable production practices and reduce vulnerabilities in their communities and ecosystem
CHOICE pilot activities in Colombia
Motivation
Colombia is one of the three largest coffee producers in the world (8.9% of the global total), contributing 11% of total agricultural GCP. Inevitably, women’s work in coffee production plays a central role.
The partners of CHOICE, SUP and Tecni, are among the first organizations in the world to guarantee constant support for women coffee farmers in the Cauca area and the production of 100% sustainable quality coffee. The immediate measures taken so far to address the impacts of climate change involve capacity building activities to adopt technological innovation and good agricultural practices. However, the existence of traditional coffee processes, little knowledge of technologies that optimize resources for production, the resulting vulnerabilities (excessive use of water and pollution), the high costs of production and transformation of the grain (constant adaptations and calibrations of pulpers, water channels and fermentation tanks with inadequate materials, lack of standardization of processes) and little traceability for product quality, are significant limitations that prevent coffee farmers in the department of Cauca from following a sustainable path.
Pilot Scope and Activities
Taking advantage of the articulated work that SUPRACAFÉ and TECNiCAFÉ does with the Association of Women Coffee Growers of Cauca (AMUCC), more than 487 small coffee producers from 10 coffee-growing municipalities in the region, who manage more than 600 hectares of coffee lands, will be involved in the pilot activities.
A modeling will be technologically implemented with a sample subgroup (200 coffee farmers), where the benefits of adopting various sustainable agricultural practices to obtain high quality coffee will be investigated, such as implementation of coffee crops under shade, the use of coffee co-products as biofertilizers and raw materials. raw materials for the food agroindustry, the implementation of agroforestry systems, the adoption of technologies for grain processing and transformation. These practices will be compared with traditional practices to evaluate their environmental and social impact and the impact on value creation. The community is currently exploring adaptation strategies to improve the resilience of farming communities and their coffee agroecosystems, a more positive approach that can facilitate stakeholder engagement by focusing on building resilience rather than perceiving them as 'victims'. of climate change.
At the SUP processing plant, GHG emissions and other impacts will be estimated, including fuel use, waste levels and co-products generated. The participation campaigns will use the producers' profiles on social networks, complemented by workshops and practical sessions organized by SUP and Tecni. These will present various scenarios derived from the CHOICE IAM modeling framework in a simplified language, using data stories relevant and engaging for the local context. Emphasis will be on mitigating community risks associated with rising temperatures and increased likelihood of extreme flash flooding, informed by CHOICE IAM models and spatially reduced data on biodiversity, water, health and climate change impacts. Impacts will also be linked to biodiversity offsets, exploiting the spatially-explicit GLOBIOM relevant module.
Enablers
The following CHOCE enablers will be used to achieve the pilot scope:
- CHOICE IAM models (FABLE, GLOBIOM) through interactive interfaces.
- Behavioural models.
- Data storytelling visuals and narratives.
- Randomised Control Trial (RCT) framework.
Expected Measurable Outcomes
- Increase the number of coffee farmers who will adopt pro-environmental behavior using the suggested green agricultural practices, that is, shade coffee cultivation, technological adoption of grain production and transformation practices, use of coffee husks as biofertilizers and agroforestry systems.
- Actively involve more than 200 women farmers in the project campaigns and workshops, maintaining their participation for at least 12 months, with a higher rate (at least 30%) of adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
- 10% increase in synergies between coffee producers in production and processing activities, creating a protocol for the co-production of new sustainable coffee specialties.
- Involve more than 200 local coffee farmers with different scenarios of sustainable agricultural practices, interacting with the FABLE calculator interface, observing climate indices and risks in their agroforestry ecosystem through the work of T3.3, as well as biodiversity information from the Spatially explicit GLOBIOM. module. Measurement indicators from farmers' experience regarding usability, trust and relevance.
- Organize at least 3 large-scale campaigns and 4 annual challenges, 1 per quarter with objectives related to CHOICE.
Involved partners
Pilot leader:
Partners:
Timeline of action
Campaigns in Colombia
From Local Action to Global Impact
Find more about the specifics of each pilot campaign that have been performed in the Cauca Region.
Women Cultivating Solutions. The "Cinema at the Farm" campaign
Overview:
The first campaign of the Colombian pilot, led by AMUCC, SUPRACAFÉ and TECNiCAFÉ, is titled “Women Cultivating Solutions: Adapt, Care, and Thrive.” It focuses on supporting women coffee farmers in Cauca to adapt their agricultural practices to climate change. Through the creative “Cinema at the Farm” approach, women gather to watch short peer‑produced video stories that reflect their own realities, inspiring collective reflection and sustainable action.
Objectives:
- Raise awareness among women coffee farmers about the impacts of climate change.
- Reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Promote water‑saving practices in coffee post‑harvest.
- Encourage the use of alternative energy and organic soil management.
Target Audience:
490 women coffee farmers from AMUCC, especially those aged 35–60 who still use conventional practices.
Approach & Activities:
The campaign uses a participatory theater‑style format called Cinema at the Farm (CINE A LA FINCA). Women watch five “Netflix‑style” mini‑episodes created by their peers, which highlight real stories of climate impacts and solutions. The series begins with “The Weather is Changing, So Do I” and continues with other stories highlighting climate challenges and practical solutions. The videos are shown in farm‑based community gatherings, fostering dialogue, reflection, and collective commitment to action.
Timeline:
August– September 2025
Location:
Cauca region (municipalities including Morales, Piendamó, Caldono, Cajibío, Popayán, Timbío, and others).
Expected Impact:
- Greater awareness of climate risks among women coffee farmers.
- Adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices in the coffee production.
- Empowerment of women as leaders of change in their communities.
Join the Campaign!
Women Cultivating Solutions. The "Cinema at the Farm" campaign
Overview:
The second Cine a la Finca campaign, titled “I Learn and Unlearn to Care for My Coffee, My Land, and My Future,” is aimed at women coffee farmers in Cauca and highlights, through a short film produced and starring the AMUCC Women, real-life examples of producers implementing best practices to obtain high-quality coffee. The story emphasizes the importance of organic fertilization, especially the incorporation of organic matter and the use of natural inputs, showing how these actions optimize resources and promote environmentally sustainable production. Addressing the myths that still exist about this practice, the short film and its presentation during the III Women in Coffee Meeting of Cauca, ENTREAMIGAS, held on November 21, 2025, at the Hotel Hacienda Supracafé, seek to clarify doubts and bridge cultural, social, and economic gaps through relatable examples and authentic experiences from the region.
Objectives:
- To raise awareness among 80% of the women participating in the Third Women in Coffee Meeting of Cauca about the benefits of organic fertilization through the screening and discussion of a short film.
- To showcase the productive experiences of AMUCC women who implement best practices for obtaining high-quality coffee.
- To reduce the perception of myths and barriers associated with organic fertilization among the coffee growers in attendance, as assessed through surveys before and after the event.
- To promote the adoption of organic fertilization practices on the farms of the participating women.
Target Audience:
490 women coffee farmers from AMUCC, especially those aged 35–60 who still use conventional practices.
Approach & Activities:
The campaign uses a participatory theater‑style format called Cinema at the Farm (CINE A LA FINCA). Women watch five “Netflix‑style” mini‑episodes created by their peers, which highlight real stories of climate impacts and solutions. The second episode of this series titled “I learn and unlearn to take care of my coffee, my land and my future” focuses on the effects of using synthetic chemical fertilizers and propose ways to reduce their use in coffee crops. The videos are shown in farm‑based community gatherings, fostering dialogue, reflection, and collective commitment to action.
Timeline:
Launch of the 2nd Campaign: 21 November 2025
Location:
Cauca region (municipalities including Morales, Piendamó, Caldono, Cajibío, Popayán, Timbío, and others).
Expected Impact:
- Greater appropriation of knowledge about organic fertilization among women coffee farmers, reflected in a deeper understanding of its benefits and informed decision-making for the sustainable management of their farms.
- Strengthening of the leadership and visibility of AMUCC Women, by positioning their successful experiences as regional benchmarks and multipliers of best practices in high-quality coffee production.
- Significant reduction of prejudice and misinformation surrounding organic fertilization, contributing to a more favorable environment for innovation and the adoption of agroecological practices in coffee-growing communities.
- Increased environmental sustainability and productive efficiency on women-led farms, thanks to the progressive incorporation of organic techniques that improve soil health, reduce costs, and strengthen the resilience of agricultural systems.
Join the Campaign!
