Small Coffee Farmers: Examining Problems and Proposing Solutions

Jackson Booth
Small Coffee Farmers: Examining Problems and Proposing Solutions: A study that examines issues affecting smallholder coffee farmers and solutions that may improve their business practices
With 83% of the adult population consuming the beverage, the U.S. is the world's largest consumer of coffee. Given the significance that coffee plays in our daily lives, it is important to look at its origins and how it impacts the livelihoods of those who produce the product that we love. 80% of coffee is produced by 25 million smallholders (farms supporting a single family with a mixture of cash crops). This study will focus on smallholders and examine the coffee supply chain, focusing on the section of the chain before coffee arrives in the hands of the exporters. In my project, I will examine issues and problems affecting smallholders and gather solutions and propose additional ideas of what efforts can be made to improve the business processes of smallholder coffee farmers.
Mentor: Dr. Odile Streed

Solutions