Sustainability in Coffee: What Does ‘Regenerative Agriculture’ Mean for Your Morning Cup?

June 12, 2025

When you sip your morning coffee, have you ever thought about how those beans were grown? Beyond the journey from farm to cup, the farming methods impact not only the flavour and quality but also the environment and local communities. A growing approach called regenerative agriculture is reshaping coffee cultivation around the world. Here is what it means for your next brew.

The Roots of Regenerative Agriculture: Honouring Indigenous Knowledge

While the term “regenerative agriculture” has become popular in recent decades, many of the practices it includes are based on land stewardship methods that Indigenous peoples around the world have practised for thousands of years. Indigenous communities have long managed ecosystems in ways that protect biodiversity, enhance soil health, and sustain their communities.

For example:

In Central and South America, Indigenous coffee farmers in countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, and Colombia have traditionally grown coffee under diverse forest canopies, a practice known as shade-grown coffee, which mimics natural ecosystems and supports biodiversity.
Indigenous peoples in the Amazon basin have developed complex agroforestry systems that integrate multiple plants and trees, helping to regenerate soil and maintain ecosystem balance.
The Zapatista Indigenous coffee cooperatives in Chiapas, Mexico, combine traditional farming techniques with social justice efforts, promoting ecological stewardship alongside community empowerment.

These time-honoured practices continue today and have inspired the contemporary regenerative agriculture movement, which builds on and respects these Indigenous knowledge systems. It is important to recognise Indigenous peoples’ sovereignty and ongoing leadership in caring for their lands.

What Does Regenerative Agriculture Look Like on a Coffee Farm?

For coffee farmers, regenerative agriculture often means moving away from monoculture (the cultivation of a single crop) and heavy reliance on synthetic chemicals toward farming systems that resemble natural ecosystems. This typically includes:

Growing coffee under shade trees, which protect plants, support wildlife, and improve microclimates.
Using cover crops to enrich the soil, prevent erosion, and improve soil structure.
Applying compost and natural fertilisers instead of synthetic ones.
Minimising soil disturbance to preserve soil carbon and structure.

A Closer Look: Regenerative Coffee Farming in Brazil

Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, is increasingly adopting regenerative practices to improve farm health and resilience against climate change. In coffee regions like Minas Gerais, farmers are planting native shade trees alongside coffee plants, fostering habitats for beneficial birds and insects that help naturally control pests. Cover crops such as legumes contribute nitrogen to the soil, reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers.

While regenerative agriculture offers many benefits, such as improving soil health and aiding ecosystem recovery, it does not come without challenges. According to CEBDS (Conselho Empresarial Brasileiro para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável, the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development), several key obstacles must be addressed to advance regenerative agriculture in Brazil:

“Conceptualization considering the context of tropical agriculture” — a clear and locally relevant definition is needed that reflects Brazil’s diverse climates and ecosystems.
“Definition of metrics and criteria for analyzing and proving the achievement of expected results in a regenerative production system” — currently, there are no standardised methods to measure or verify whether a farm is truly regenerative.
“Establishment of a regulatory framework for regenerative agriculture in Brazil” — the lack of official policies and regulations limits support for farmers transitioning to these practices.

These gaps make it difficult for farmers to access financial incentives or market their products as regenerative. Nevertheless, ongoing research, technical assistance, and policy development are crucial enabling factors that can help overcome these challenges and unlock the full potential of regenerative agriculture in Brazil (learn more).

Why It Matters to Farmers and Coffee Drinkers

Regenerative agriculture supports farmers by reducing input costs, improving soil and water health, and helping farms adapt to climate variability. For coffee drinkers, choosing coffee grown regeneratively means supporting agricultural systems that aim to restore ecosystems, nurture communities, and produce coffees with meaningful stories rooted in care for the land.