Measuring the carbon footprint of green coffee has traditionally been a mixed bag, as is often the case with agricultural life cycle assessments. The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) commissioned the French Centre for Agricultural Research for International Development (CIRAD) to review current methodologies for green coffee, revealing a more correct picture of how to measure the environmental impact of the raw material used in one of the world’s most popular beverages.
Cécile Chéron-Bessou, CIRAD principal investigator on the survey, explains: “Life-cycle assessments are sophisticated and rely on numerous simplifications and choices. A key principle of these assessments is therefore absolute transparency around the exact choices and assumptions made in the modelling. We hope that our review will provide a resilient tool for transparently and reliably measuring the carbon footprint of green coffee – helping farmers and researchers to support good practices in sustainable coffee cultivation.”.
CIRAD identified and analyzed 34 studies, as well as international agricultural guidelines for measuring carbon footprints. The studies were representative of a wide range of coffee-growing regions and locations. For example, 72% of all agricultural systems studied were located in Central and South America, accounting for 70% of global coffee production.
As the review highlights, the overall carbon footprint of green coffee can vary significantly depending on a number of key factors. These include:
- Land apply change – changes in land apply or management caused by humans
- Different levels of nitrogen fertilizer application
- Coffee pruning residue, leaf litter and coffee husks – different levels of residue cause different emissions from decomposition and release of stored carbon
- Emissions from saturated processes – cleaning, sorting and drying of fruit and coffee beans.
The published review was conducted in parallel with more detailed report which provides a number of recommendations for standardizing measurements in these areas. For example, elementary guidelines for identifying representative measurements for different coffee cropping systems and consistently applying land-use change modeling, and a description of how best to estimate the total biomass (including roots) of other trees present in coffee cropping systems. Because coffee is a perennial crop that lives for many years without replanting, the review also provides guidance on correct modeling and average measurements for trees at different stages of maturity.
Bibliography
- Chéron-Bessou C. and A. (2024) Exploring the Impact of Coffee’s Life Cycle: Why Do Results Vary So Much Between Studies? Sustainable Production and Consumption. Published on the Internet.
- Grüter R. et al. (2022) Expected global usability of coffee, cashews and avocados due to climate changePLOS ONE.
- CYRADE (2024) Green Coffee Carbon Footprint Review.
About ISIC
The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) is a non-profit organisation, founded in 1990, whose mission is to collect and consolidate balanced scientific information on the production and consumption of coffee – serving as a reference point for professionals and authorities who are concerned with the health and well-being of both people and the environment.
Its activities include:
- Research into scientific matters
- Evaluation of research and scientific information
- Support for independent scientific research
- Disseminating balanced scientific evidence and knowledge to a wide range of stakeholders
ISIC respects the ethics of research in all its activities. ISIC communications are based on sound science and are based on scientific research from peer-reviewed journals and other publications.
About CIRAD
CIRAD is a French organisation dedicated to agricultural research and international cooperation, working for the sustainable development of tropical and Mediterranean regions.
It works with its partners to build knowledge and solutions for resilient agricultural systems in a more sustainable, inclusive world. It mobilises science, innovation and training to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Its expertise supports the full range of stakeholders, from producers to public policy makers, to support biodiversity conservation, agroecological transformations, the sustainability of food systems, health (plants, animals and ecosystems), the sustainable development of rural areas and their resilience to climate change. CIRAD operates in some fifty countries on every continent, thanks to the expertise of 1,800 staff members, including 1,240 scientists, supported by a global network of some 200 partners. It also supports French science diplomacy operations.
