Increasingly, waste from coffee production is a key a
rea of focus for us. We wove proper disposal of waste into
projects we have funded in the past, and we support projects that pilot waste management innovations, such as
closed
-
loop composting, which involves contained, on
-
site composting units or operation
s.
There are currently five such projects underway at coffee cooperatives in Peru, Nicaragua, and Mexico. These
groups have built composting plants to take post
-
production waste from coffee plantations, convert it to rich, organic
compost that has been spe
cifically shaped to match the nutrient needs of the region’s soil, and sell the compost back
to co
-
op members at low cost. Projects like these offer cascading benefits. In addition to reducing farm waste,
composting helps farmers achieve or maintain their
organic certification, can increase yields on the farm to improve
income and food security, and composting facilities create jobs in the community. These projects also help raise the
profile of the cooperatives involved and can encourage more members to jo
in.