Eco Farm Santa Bárbara Coffee

The Santa Bárbara Farm, located in Monte Carmelo, Minas Gerais (MG), is a reference in the coffee-producing region of Cerrado Mineiro. The history of the Eco Farm Santa Bárbara Coffee project area began in the 1970s with the start of coffee production activities. However, in the 1980s, coffee cultivation was replaced by beef cattle farming, dairy farming, and cereal production, which continued for two decades. After this period, coffee production activities resumed.

In this context, Santa Bárbara Farm’s mission is to “Produce Specialty Coffees Through Special People,” aiming to meet food security demands, mitigate climate change with identity and sustainability. The total area of the rural property is 88.96 hectares, with 64 hectares allocated to growing Mundo Novo and Topázio coffee varieties.

Santa Bárbara Farm has ensured coffee productivity through sustainable projects on the property, including waste treatment, ash and organic waste water projects, rational use of water resources, food security projects, bee protection, and honey production. These activities strengthen the preservation of fauna and flora, promoting the stability of natural systems crucial for coffee production.

Furthermore, by converting the farm’s production system, the owners shifted land use from predominantly livestock activities like cattle farming and pasture to coffee cultivation. Sustaining these productive coffee activities ensures local job creation and wealth generation. In the current scenario, coffee cultivation contributes to removing greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) from the atmosphere, positioning the coffee-producing rural property as a mitigator. This role in mitigation is primarily achieved through CO2 removal. For example, coffee cultivation aids in carbon sequestration, helping to mitigate the rise in CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. Additionally, coffee not only removes CO2 and stores carbon but also releases water vapor into the atmosphere, aiding in local microclimate balance maintenance.