THE DIRT

Coffee = Coffea Arabica

As demand for coffee has soared, agriculture has made a shift from traditional, sustainable coffee growing methods to intense monocultures that require large inputs of synthetic fertilizer and pesticides.  This brings about a loss in biodiversity and depletes the land.

ECO IMPACT
Traditionally coffee grows under a canopy and uses the dead leaves that fall from overhead to provide natural nutrients and mulch.  The move to sun cultivated crops has lead to the clearing of over 2.5 million acres of forest in Central America which has created a huge loss in flora and fauna biodiversity.

Sun grown coffee requires fertilizers to provide nitrogen (which is provided by decaying leaves in shade grown varieties). Sun crops are also highly exposed which often leads to increased erosion and soil degradation.

Many of the chemicals used on coffee have been found to be harmful to the environment and have been banned or are strictly regulated in the U.S. or Europe, they remain legal to use in less-developed countries, including many countries that grow coffee.

HEALTH IMPACT
Endosulfan used against the coffee cherry borer. It is toxic to mammals, birds, and fish. Found to cause damage to the central nervous system, kidney, testes, and liver.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) lists this chemical as: Class II (moderately hazardous). In 1993 Colombia reported more than 100 human poisonings and one death from endosulfan. More than 100 poisonings and three deaths were reported in 1994. 

Chlorpyrifos  is a broad spectrum organophosphate used against coffee cherry borer and coffee leaf miner. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency banned most household uses in 2000.  It is a contact poison which has caused human deaths, and has been linked to birth defects. It is extremely toxic to birds, freshwater and marine organisms, bees, and other wildlife.  It can bioaccumulate and effect bird reproduction. WHO Class II (moderately hazardous).

Disulfoton A systemic organophosphate insecticide used against the leaf miner.  In the U.S., it has restricted use due to its high toxicity to mammals by all routes of exposure.  It is also highly toxic to birds and fish. WHO Class 1a, extremely hazardous (highest toxicity).

Methyl parathion (a.k.a. ethyl parathion). Organophosphate used against the leaf miner. Highly toxic pesticide, highly restricted in the U.S. Persistent in soil and will bioaccumulate.  It is banned in Indonesia and restricted in Colombia. WHO Class 1a, extremely hazardous.

Read more on the Coffee and Conservation Website

SOCIAL IMPACT
The coffee industry illustrates the link between poverty and environmental degradation.  Ensuring that coffee farmers receive a living wage is one way to help preserve the environment, both by encouraging sustainable coffee farming methods that produce the highest quality coffee, and by empowering farmers economically thereby reducing their need to exploit the environment for survival.

THE SOLUTION
Buy organic, fair trade coffee for the pefect tasting ethical cup.

G SPOT
If only all life's choices were as simple as changing your coffee!