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Shade-grown vs Sun-grown Coffee

Coffee enthusiasts often research how to roast and brew coffee beans, but rarely delve into how coffee beans are actually grown.

Today FrontStreet Coffee wants to share some knowledge about coffee bean cultivation with everyone.

Those with some knowledge of coffee know that coffee trees, although tropical plants, both Arabica and Robusta varieties, grow under the shade of tall trees in their natural habitat.

Botanical research has found that for coffee trees in equatorial regions to photosynthesize, the optimal sunlight ratio is only 20%-25%.

Beyond this ratio, upper leaves no longer absorb light, but sunlight passes through to be absorbed by lower leaves.

This excess sunlight can indeed stimulate flower buds and produce more fruit.

Coffee trees are originally not sun-tolerant. Before the 1970s, almost all coffee trees were planted under high-altitude forest shade, and their coffee products were classified as "shade-grown coffee."

During the Green Revolution of the 1970s, scientists developed sun-grown coffee cultivation technology, enabling coffee trees to grow in environments without shade trees.

Many coffee farmers were therefore encouraged to cut down shade trees and grow only coffee as a single crop, cultivating more sun-tolerant coffee varieties.

This not only expanded the planting area but also increased the yield per tree, making management more convenient.

Accompanying problems, such as soil nutrient deficiency and increased pest damage, were solved by spraying large amounts of fertilizers and pesticides.

Nowadays, the vast majority of coffee plantations on Earth follow this cultivation model. Coffee products from this method are called "sun-grown coffee."

For a one-hectare coffee field, sun-grown coffee yields approximately 1,600 kg annually!

In contrast, shade-grown coffee only yields 550 kg, which is 25% to 40% of sun-grown coffee.

Currently, about 80% of coffee beans on the market are sun-grown, with only the remaining 20% being environmentally friendly "shade-grown coffee."

However, while sun-grown cultivation technology increases coffee production, it comes at a significant cost: Earth's ecosystem is affected, natural resources gradually deplete due to overuse, and consequently, coffee quality begins to decline.

Moreover, farmers are constrained by chemical product prices and powerless to resist.

These negative consequences became apparent after the energy crisis erupted.

Therefore, after the 1970s, the momentum of the Green Revolution diminished.

Many coffee farmers returned to traditional methods: planting coffee trees under shade trees, replacing some or all chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers, preparing natural pesticide sprays or creating traps to catch pests, and cultivating natural enemies that can control diseases and pests, among other practices.

Why Coffee Trees Need Shade

Coffee trees don't need long hours of sunlight each day - a few hours are sufficient.

Hilly terrain is ideal because it receives shorter sun exposure and has good drainage.

Coffee trees prefer moist roots, so tall, leafy trees are interplanted in coffee plantations to provide both wind protection and shade.

Shade cultivation offers numerous benefits for coffee trees, such as:

(1) Blocking excess sunlight;

(2) Protecting soil and water sources;

(3) The cool environment under shade trees can reduce pest damage;

(4) Minerals from deep soil can be brought to the surface through fallen branches and leaves, increasing topsoil fertility;

(5) Providing habitat for birds and bats, which helps control certain pest populations;

(6) Lowering the temperature around coffee fruits, thereby slowing fruit maturation time and developing more complex flavors.

Common Shade Tree Management Issues

Do shade trees in coffee plantations need management?

Without a doubt, there's no such thing as a free lunch. To maximize the effectiveness of shade trees in coffee plantations, proper shade tree management must be implemented.

Shade cultivation involves many considerations, but generally speaking, coffee trees are partial-sun plants, and the density and size of green beans will have better optimization benefits than those grown in open, direct sunlight.

Generally, non-native coffee trees use "planned shade" cultivation, mostly using fruit trees as shade trees, which provides alternative harvests besides coffee fruits, greatly supplementing overall economic income.

But broadly speaking, shade trees are mostly common local tree species. For example, in banana-producing Central America, many places use banana trees as shade trees.

However, some regions don't need shade trees to achieve shade effects due to their special environment and climate.

Hawaiian Kona coffee is such an example.

The local climate often brings clouds after noon, along with showers, creating a natural shade effect.

This special island climate also creates unique flavors.

What Types of Shade Trees Do Famous Coffee Plantations Use?

#Geisha/Panama Emerald Estate: Native trees for natural shade/Elevation: 1,595-1,737 meters

#Blue Mountain/Coffee Estate: Banana and avocado trees/Elevation: 1,500 meters (Japanese technology introduced)

#St. Helena Coffee/Ebony and cabbage trees for shade/Elevation: 1,000+ meters above volcanic soil

#Golden Mandheling/Aceh Emerald Lake: Jackfruit trees, orange trees, wild vanilla, and other shade tree species/Elevation: 900-1,600 meters

Common shade tree management issues are shared as follows:

1. Tree Species Selection:

It's recommended to use native broadleaf trees (such as paper mulberry trees, tung trees, paper mulberry, etc.), characterized by rapid growth, reaching heights of over 10 meters in about 5 years, providing good shade effects.

However, due to soft wood being susceptible to pest damage causing fallen dead branches or wind damage, the advantage of using these native broadleaf trees is biodiversity.

Food chains can be maintained because these tree species provide food.

Moreover, the land becomes rich in humus due to the accumulation of fallen leaves and dead branches, gradually improving soil quality.

2. Planting Principles:

Shade trees must maintain certain distances, and coffee trees should be able to receive partial sunlight smoothly.

This means shade tree branches and leaves cannot be too dense.

First, consider the seasonal sunlight changes in the coffee-growing region: for example, in areas with sufficient winter sunlight and no frost damage, it's best to choose tree species that don't lose their leaves in winter.

Conversely, in areas with insufficient winter sunlight and frost damage, it's best to mix both deciduous and evergreen tree species for winter, planting them according to sunlight angles.

Second, consider typhoons, mountain winds, and foehn winds. In foehn wind areas, besides planting shade trees, windbreaks should also be planted, and proper irrigation measures must be implemented to reduce damage.

Finally, shade tree selection and replacement must be carefully considered, as pests from certain tree species can also damage coffee trees.

Additionally, to maintain biodiversity, native broadleaf trees must maintain a certain proportion to avoid disrupting the food chain.

3. Maintenance Tools:

Basic equipment includes ropes and saws (electric saws, chainsaws, or large-sized saws for tree cutting).

Because native broadleaf trees grow rapidly, sometimes reaching heights of 20 to 30 meters, and have the characteristic of soft wood being susceptible to pest damage causing fallen dead branches.

To avoid accidental injury to workers, it's necessary to climb trees using ropes as needed to trim dead branches, or trim dense shade tree branches and leaves as needed to allow coffee trees to receive partial sunlight.

4. Application of Shade Trees:

Under tall, lush shade trees, if growers know how to maintain a certain amount and height of weeds.

The principle is to create natural dew that keeps the coffee plantation moist, which can create the plantation's own microclimate.

This ensures stable quality of coffee produced in the plantation.

Latest Research Findings

No Need to Choose Between Sun-grown and Shade-grown

According to a groundbreaking latest study, coffee growers can maximize profits by allocating one-third to two-thirds of their coffee farmland to shade-grown cultivation.

The original purpose of this study was to attempt to verify that extensive sun-grown cultivation doesn't achieve maximum economic benefits.

In a paper published last May in the journal Ecological Economics—researchers from Columbia University and Cornell University explored the potential economic benefits of coffee farmers' choices between sun-grown and shade-grown cultivation.

Researchers used a resource economics algorithm called dynamic optimization to simulate the process of farmers converting land from traditional sun-grown to shade-grown cultivation.

It considers expected yields and costs of each system.

Including benefits from increased pest control due to birds, as well as price premiums for high-quality, sustainably grown coffee.

It also considers reduced pesticide costs and "appropriate market conditions," among other assumptions.

The study shows that at least 36% of a 5-hectare farm should be allocated to shade-grown cultivation to maximize farmer income.

This research also confirms previous statements by relevant coffee experts that the relationship between sun-grown and shade-grown cultivation should not be polarized.

Both sun-grown and shade-grown cultivation can play their respective roles in a given coffee farm, thereby maximizing profitability and sustainability.

Coffee Bean Market and Cultivation Prospects

With increasing globalization, coffee, as one of the world's main beverages, has gradually become popular in our country. So, what's the price of coffee beans per jin? What are the cultivation prospects?

1. How Much Do Coffee Beans Cost Per Jin?

Currently, the market price of relatively ordinary coffee beans is generally around 18 to 20 yuan per jin, while coffee beans bought at Starbucks cost about 100 yuan for half a jin. In the Beijing region, coffee bean prices are slightly lower than Starbucks, with freshly roasted coffee beans priced at about 20 yuan for half a jin. In some regions, coffee beans cost about 30 yuan for half a jin, while freshly roasted Blue Mountain coffee beans only cost about 120 yuan per jin. Of course, coffee bean prices vary according to different types, and some specialty coffee beans are quite expensive.

2. Changes in Coffee Bean Prices

Coffee bean prices fluctuate significantly. Previously, coffee beans were mainly consumed in Europe and America, while we basically drank tea. However, with economic development and deepening globalization, trade between China and the outside world has become increasingly frequent. Coffee has become a favorite European and American beverage for many people in our country, especially for those who work overtime or night shifts, providing great benefits. For a time, coffee bean prices surged, but gradually, as coffee bean production increased, coffee bean prices slowly decreased.

3. What Factors Affect Coffee Bean Prices?

The main factors affecting coffee bean price changes are five: first, changes in market supply, that is, changes in coffee bean production; second, changes in climatic conditions and the impact of pests and diseases on coffee bean cultivation; third, changes in domestic and international policies or measures regarding coffee beans; fourth, changes in demand; and of course, other factors affecting prices, such as regional market differences and coffee bean quality.

4. Coffee Bean Cultivation Prospects

The cultivation prospects for coffee beans are quite good because coffee has been accepted and loved by most people now. Many people have coffee grinding machines at home, so the demand for coffee beans is growing. However, the quality of many coffee beans on the market is not very high, and the production of high-quality coffee beans is still relatively small. Coffee bean quality needs improvement, requiring expansion of coffee bean cultivation scale while improving coffee bean processing and production techniques. Overall, due to huge global market demand, coffee bean cultivation prospects are quite good, but growing coffee beans requires suitable cultivation conditions.

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