Perfecto, I., J. Vandermeer, A. Mas, and L. Soto Pinto. 2005. Biodiversity, yield, and shade coffee certification. Ecological Economics 54:435-446. The more complex overstory (and thus shade) in a coffee plantation, the higher the diversity. However, the more shade, the…
Certifications
Is promoting shade-grown coffee really a good conservation strategy?
In 2003, a number of important researchers debated the conservation value of promoting shade-grown coffee in the pages of the journal Conservation Biology. First Rappole et al. [1] wrote that if the result of promoting shade coffee resulted in the…
Shade grown coffee certification
There is no set definition of the term “shade grown.” Here are the two main certifications that deal with shade coffee.
Shade grown, Organic, Fair Trade: how do they relate?
If it’s certified Fair Trade… Over 80% of the coffee certified Fair Trade in the U.S. (by TransFair USA) is also shade grown. Organizations that certify shade grown coffee are the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and the Rainforest Alliance. Nearly…
What is Fair Trade?
Worldwide, habitat destruction is the leading cause of bird population declines and loss of biodiversity. The link between poverty and environmental degradation is inescapable. Making sure that coffee farmers receive a living wage is one way to help preserve habitat…