Shade Trees Can Protect Coffee Crops

Sustainable farming that employs shade trees may improve crops' resistance to temperature and precipitation extremes that climate changes are expected to trigger. The study focuses on coffee production, although their conclusions could be applicable to other economically important crops, including cocoa and tea, which also were traditionally grown under shade trees.

Scientists believe that the intensification of coffee production has made that crop more vulnerable to higher temperatures and changes in precipitation. The evidence suggests that trends toward increased use of pesticides and less reliance on shade trees, make the crop more susceptible to weather.
The benefits of shade trees appear greater in more marginal growing areas. Further efforts are needed to determine where a return to more traditional agroforestry techniques is likely to protect the livelihoods of farmers threatened by climate change.

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