Biodiversity in coffee farming
Helping Build Resilience
2
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The creation of a balanced ecosystem can produce rich rewarding benefits, such as measurable improvements in pollination and pest control. Biodiversity supports this balance by encouraging a wider variety of plants, birds and insects on coffee farms.
Diversity is strength
We’re sharing the potential benefits of biodiversity with farmers across the globe by introducing them to regenerative agriculture practices. In Brazil, we collaborate with numerous farm managers to help them improve coffee yields, one of whom is Luiz Santos. “With an increased focus on biodiversity, we have noticed greater resilience, not only from coffee trees, but from the overall plant life,” he says. Resilience is the ability of an ecological system to cope with shocks and disturbances by adapting to environmental change, while retaining original structure and functionality.
“When you improve biodiversity, you support a microclimate in your area, whether it's coffee or not.”
NESCAFÉ® biofuel sustainable practices
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Birds, bees and other insects
Planting the right trees can improve biodiversity, acting as a catalyst for more changes. “When you increase the number of trees, you attract diverse bird species from other regions and they can help disseminate seeds.” says Luiz. Beneficial insects and birds are also ideal partners for pest control, and Luiz has even discovered the advantages of introducing trees with flowers that attract bees. “We have several species of eucalyptus for bees to pollinate,” he says. “This can make a difference to the final product.”
Natural solutions
To maintain biodiversity, Luiz constantly monitors the farm he manages, planting trees to increase his forest, reducing silt in the waterways and ensuring his soil is healthy. This conscious, comprehensive approach has given him greater control of the farm. “By improving biodiversity I’ve increased fodder plants, creating a climate that’s much milder and ideal for coffee trees,” he says. “This provides thermal comfort, stimulating plant growth and contributing to improved productivity.”
FAQ
In line with the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, NESCAFÉ® defines “regenerative agriculture” as an approach to farming which aims, through practice adoption, to conserve and restore natural resources, primarily soil, as well as water and biodiversity, while capturing carbon in soils and plant biomass, and to support farmers’ livelihoods. Key practices promoted under the NESCAFÉ® Plan include efficient water use and optimised use of inputs.
Learn more: NESCAFÉ® Plan 2030 Progress Report 2025
See how we’re growing coffee and supporting biodiversity on farms
Discover how NESCAFÉ® supports coffee farmers in leveraging regenerative agriculture practices.
