Planting the right trees helps coffee crops thrive

Coffee Likes Shade

1 min

Natural protection

Farmer Dương Thanh Sâm knows how important it is to shelter his crops. “Coffee trees love shade,” he says. These shade-givers help Sâm to better care for his crop and are one of the key methods he implements to guard them from potential damage caused by heavy rain, strong winds, erosion and excessive sunlight. Trees that provide shade can even contribute to soil health and provide organic matter that supports soil fertility and ecosystems within the soil. But perhaps most importantly, they can prolong the natural ripening process which ultimately impacts the quality of the yield.

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Dương Thanh Sâm explains why his crops thrive in shade

1|min

Multiple benefits

Along with Sâm and other farmers around the world, who are partners in the NESCAFÉ® Plan, we explain the potential benefits of growing other trees on coffee farms. These additional trees provide shade, can improve biodiversity, enhance water holding capacity, reduce soil erosion and increase organic matter. But it’s not a one size fits all solution. Here we use our scientific expertise and extensive local knowledge to find the best companion for the coffee trees in each region.

Trees for the future

Sâm sees the benefits of intercropping with shade-givers like the tall pepper tree, a species that aligns to his farm’s ecosystem. “My hope is that it will bring economic efficiency" he says. This future-focused approach excites him. “I hope that in ten years’ time, my farm – as seen from an online map – will be covered in green,” he smiles. “But for now, there are other benefits. We sit in the shade of trees to take a break and chill,” he says.

FAQ

What is regenerative agriculture?

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