Sustainability Policy for Smallholder Farmers: The Challenge

Behind a cup of deforestation-free coffee

Rio Frío, Honduras: José Darío Enamorado stands on his family’s farm, surrounded by lush trees and coffee plants. “We have worked on this land since the beginning of the 20th century,” he says. “My great grandparents grew grains, raised cattle, and then converted their pasture into shade-grown coffee plantations, creating forest gardens. Organic fertilizer from the trees increased the soil’s fertility and water availability, and coffee became a source of wealth for our lands.” José Darío’s family uses traditional agroforestry farming practices. In recent years, these approaches are receiving increasing attention due to their potential for ecosystem restoration and biodiversity protection.