Helping smallholder tea and coffee growers combat climate change

Back in August, Mr Green and I watched ‘Black Gold‘ which tells the story of coffee growers in Ethiopia.

The film had a massive impact on me, and made us both realise that buying fairtrade coffee is not an option, it’s a necessity. What we didn’t realise, however, is the massive effects that climate change is having on the millions of people and communities that depend on the crops for their livelihoods.

It’s heartening then to hear of coffee companies who DO care and who ARE making a difference. By focusing on their social and economic impact in the developing world, Cafédirect; the UK’s largest Fairtrade hot drinks company; are committed to changing lives and building communities through sustainable business. [amazon-product align=”right” small=”1″]B000RWDXVE[/amazon-product]

Partnering with GTZ, the German Technical Cooperation; Cafédirect uses Fairtrade tea, coffee and cocoa to help smallholder growers combat climate change with their  three-year multinational project called AdapCC.

The aim of this project is to pioneer new strategies for coping with and adapting to climate change, which is causing havoc for the world’s coffee and tea growing regions.

[amazon-product small=”1″]190445643X[/amazon-product]What we fail to realise in the West is that the effects of climate change are most severe for those least equipped to deal with them.  Due to lack of information, adaptation capabilities and access to financial and technical support schemes, poor agricultural smallholders in rural areas will be affected most by climate change. They will be the innocent victims of reduction of soil fertility, extreme water shortages and droughts as well as increasing pest attacks.

AdapCC is currently focusing in four areas in Latin America and East Africa where it aims to mitigate the risks that these coffee and tea farmers are facing.

What about you? Do you choose your coffee based on taste, price or the fact it can make a difference to others?