How Can Coffee Production Thrive in a Changing Climate? A Conversation with Daniel Ramírez
As climate change continues to reshape agricultural landscapes, coffee production faces unprecedented challenges, from erratic rainfall to pest outbreaks. These threats not only jeopardize yields but also the livelihoods of millions of farmers. In a recent study, Daniel Ramírez explored how integrating shade systems and leveraging data from the Helios platform can enhance climate resilience in coffee farming.
To dive deeper into the study and its findings, Daniel sat down with our CEO Francisco Martin-Rayo to discuss the role of data, shade systems, and technical support in building climate-resilient coffee systems.
Part I – Francisco Interviews Daniel
Francisco: Hi Daniel! Thanks for taking the time to chat about your latest study. I found it fascinating how you explored shade systems and their potential role in mitigating climate risks for coffee production. What inspired you to focus on this specific topic?
Daniel: Hi Francisco, it’s great to be here! The inspiration came from the growing urgency we’re seeing in coffee-growing regions worldwide. Climate change is hitting coffee producers hard, with unpredictable rainfall, rising temperatures, and an increase in pest outbreaks. Shade systems have long been known for their ecological benefits, like microclimate regulation and biodiversity conservation, but I wanted to dig deeper into their potential as a climate resilience tool. With the Helios platform, we were able to approach this challenge from a data-driven perspective, which was a game-changer.
Francisco: We’re so glad that Helios could help! Let’s dive into the data. You mentioned that shade systems might not be a silver bullet for climate resilience. Can you explain why?
Daniel: Absolutely. The data showed us that while shade systems can offer significant benefits in some contexts—like mitigating extreme radiation, improving soil water dynamics, and providing a buffer against uneven rainfall—their effectiveness depends heavily on local conditions. For example, in regions with high cloud cover or already sufficient water retention, full sunlight exposure might actually lead to higher productivity. What we found is that shade interacts with other factors like farming practices, pest management, and even the choice of coffee cultivars. Without robust technical and institutional support, shade alone isn’t enough.
Francisco: It sounds like context is everything. Were there specific countries or regions where shade systems stood out as especially effective?
Daniel: Yes, Honduras is a great example. They’ve integrated shade into about 80% of their coffee production, and their climate risk is among the lowest of all the countries we studied. This success is partly due to government initiatives supporting pest control, disease monitoring, and farmer training. By contrast, countries like Peru, which also heavily use shade systems, still face significant climate vulnerabilities. This highlights the need for tailored strategies that consider local conditions.
Part II – The Role of Data and Technology
Francisco: We were so excited to give you access to Helios as a tool in your study. Can you share if it helped uncover these insights?
Daniel: Helios was indispensable. It allowed us to access high-resolution climate risk data down to the farm level, something that existing tools like the Global Climate Risk Index just can’t provide. We were able to correlate climate risks with practices like shade usage, pest-resistant cultivars, and soil management. For example, Helios highlighted how Vietnam, despite relying primarily on sun-grown Robusta coffee, maintains lower-than-average climate risk due to its robust institutional support for irrigation and farmer training.
Francisco: That’s fascinating. So, in addition to shade, institutional support seems to play a huge role in climate resilience?
Daniel: Exactly. The study underscored the importance of technical and institutional frameworks. In countries like Brazil and Vietnam, we see advanced technologies like drought-resistant cultivars and government-backed irrigation systems making a significant impact. These nations have demonstrated that resilience isn’t just about adopting one practice—it’s about creating an ecosystem that supports innovation and adaptation.
Francisco: I love that point about ecosystems. What role do you think data platforms like Helios will play in shaping the future of climate-resilient agriculture?
Daniel: They’re critical. Platforms like Helios provide the granular insights needed to design context-specific interventions. Whether it’s identifying the optimal use of shade, pinpointing pest vulnerabilities, or predicting yield impacts from rainfall patterns, these insights help policymakers and farmers make informed decisions. Helios also facilitates global collaboration by sharing successful practices, like what we’ve seen in Honduras, across regions.
Part III – Recommendations for Building Resilience
Francisco: If you could leave coffee producers with three key recommendations based on your study, what would they be?
Daniel: Great question. First, I’d say focus on context-specific interventions—what works in one region may not work in another. For example, integrating pest-resistant cultivars in Peru or improving irrigation in drought-prone areas can make a huge difference. Second, strengthen technical and institutional support. This includes training farmers, monitoring for pests and diseases, and making climate-resilient technologies accessible. Finally, invest in research and collaboration. We need to deepen our understanding of practices like shade systems by integrating data at a more granular level. Sharing successful strategies across countries will also be key to building a more resilient global coffee system.
Francisco: Those are fantastic takeaways. Thank you, Daniel, for sharing these insights. I can’t wait to see how these findings translate into action on the ground.
Daniel: Thank you, Francisco! I’m optimistic that with the right tools, collaboration, and focus, we can help coffee farmers adapt and thrive in the face of climate change.
This conversation between Daniel and Francisco highlights the importance of tailored strategies, robust institutional support, and innovative data platforms like Helios in addressing climate risks in coffee production. As the agricultural industry continues to face the challenges of climate change, integrating these elements will be crucial to building resilience and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for millions of farmers worldwide.
Read Daniel’s full article outlining his research here. For any questions or comments, you can reach him at danielramirezbotero@gmail.com.
