Organic coffee is coffee grown according to organic farming standards, without any chemicals such as pesticides, artificial fertilizers, or herbicides. Organic farming systems are a form of agriculture that relies on a variety of techniques including biological pest control, use of green manure, compost and crop rotation systems.
Organic farming methods have been regulated internationally and is
based on the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
(IFOAM) - an organic farming organization that was founded in '72. IFOAM
defines organic agriculture as follows:"Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.."
What are the advantages of organic coffee?
The advantage of organic coffee is the advantage of ecosystems. As we know, pesticides, artificial fertilizers and other chemicals slowly destroy the soil's fertility and seep into local water supplies. Organic coffee can maintain the ecosystem balance because it does not use chemicals.
In addition, organic coffee farms also help save the ecosystem of deforestation.
Why organic coffee could save the forest from deforestation?
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| Organic Coffee Plantation |
Coffee trees do not naturally grow in direct sunlight. It need big trees to create shade. These trees also provide habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. But this moment the coffee industry has develop sun resistant coffee tree to increase the coffee production. With this new variant of coffee tree, the coffee farm no longer require large trees to protect the coffee tree. As the consequences, each new opening coffee farm, every large tree in the forest will be cut. The organic coffee farm will save the forest because it need the tree.
However, organic coffee farming requires higher production costs compared to conventional coffee farming. As the result, the price of organic coffee beans become more expensive. Therefore, organic coffee production is currently only about 1% of total world coffee production.
