Tag Archives: technology

Analysis paralysis: Farmers need decision support tools

2016-12-12 Comments Off on Analysis paralysis: Farmers need decision support tools

I work for a non-profit-organization whose mission is to support communities in becoming more resilient and improving the management of their natural resources to become more sustainable. We do this in part by helping farmers to earn living incomes – this means helping to ensure that all household members have a decent standard of living […]

306. The water interviews: Nicaragua

2012-10-01 Comments Off on 306. The water interviews: Nicaragua

My colleague Jefferson Shriver is an advisor on issues of agroenterprise and climate change for CRS programs in Latin America and the Caribbean.  He is based in Nicaragua, where he has lived and worked on-and-off for the better part of 20 years.  Over that time, he has collaborated with many of the country’s leading coffee […]

305. The water interviews: Finance

2012-09-24 Comments Off on 305. The water interviews: Finance

Root Capital was established in 1999 to serve the grassroots enterprises that occupy the “missing middle” of financial markets in less-developed countries: they are too big for microfinance organizations and perceived as too small and risky by commercial banks.  The organization’s success suggests that the scope of the need and opportunity in the missing middle […]

302. The water footprint of your coffee

2012-09-11 Comments Off on 302. The water footprint of your coffee

Since early August, I have published at least one post per week on the relationship between coffee and water resources.  In several of those posts I have made mention of coffee’s “water footprint” without much exploration of the concept.  According to this excellent study, coffee’s water footprint is 140 liters (or 37 gallons) per cup. […]

298. What will it take for coffee farmers to make processing operations “bluer”?

2012-09-03 Comments Off on 298. What will it take for coffee farmers to make processing operations “bluer”?

There are many water-efficient technologies currently in use by farmers selling their coffee into specialty markets.  And there are some good reasons why there is still a relatively modest embrace of those technologies.  What will it take for more farmers to “blue” their post-harvest processes?