We are fully aware that the lives of Colombian coffee growers and the ability to improve their quality of life also depend on how we understand, appreciate and manage our environment. The term sustainability for the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation includes not only promoting social and economical development, but also fostering environmental sustainability in the Colombian coffee growing regions.

In order to understand our environment and its interaction with coffee growing we support a number of scientific research projects, knowing full well that research done for other crops or for conditions prevalent in other coffee producing countries do not necessarily apply in Colombia. In addition we have focused on technology transfer, by making coffee growers and their families appreciative of their environment, so that new and environmentally friendly practices can be more easily adopted. Another of our core objectives, while working on environmental conservation, is promoting the preservation of biodiversity, clean production and sound agricultural practices.

Our primary tools for knowledge transfer are our Extension Service and Cenicafé's scientific publications. Those effective tools are implemented within Coffee Growing Communities in topics related with biodiversity and agricultural practices. Our goal is to lead them into progressive adaptation of new agricultural practices and the appreciation of its environment. This effort would preserve the farms' competitiveness through sustainable production systems for future generations, because of the low impact over the coffee regions in Colombia.

As part of our job, we administer rise funds and co-financed  research projects and programs focused on  the conservation of the environment  and the improvement.

Our environmental policy lines of action are:

• Scientific research.
• Coffee culture competitiveness and sustainability.
• Social Development.
• Industrial Processes.

Acting with our own resources and adding those of our partners and allies, we are developing among others, the following projects::

Forest Watch Families

Forestry Program

Best Agricultural and Environmental Practices

• Sustainable Development within the Colombian Rural Environment Program - Sowers of Peace II
• Sierra of Perijá- Good Inside Project
• Adoption of the Coffee 4C Code of Conduct and the Rainforest Alliance Certification in Santander
• Program for the Implementation of the 4C Code of Conduct in the coffee belt of the Department of Antioquia
• The Nestlé Nespresso program for the consolidation of sustainable production of AAA coffee, improvement of productive infrastructure, and the decontamination of coffee Farms in the Cauca and Nariño Departments

 Conservation of Soil

Since the creation of Cenicafé, in 1938, scientific research has been made about how water moves on the soils, the erosion and its impact in coffee growing, and the quality of soil. Cenicafé has publications to explain how to prevent erosion in coffee zones, so that the soil is preserved for future generations.

Carbon Sequestration

Contributing to reduce global warming is a general purpose of all organizations, especially for those working with natural resources. That is why Cenicafé is working on the validation and application of a model for Carbon Sequestration in tropical species, with the objective to measure the impact of the whole coffee chain emissions. No "carbon neutral coffee" can be offered without taking into account this type of research.

Biodiversity Conservation

Our organization understands the Coffee Growing Industry as an activity that needs to balance the coffee growing family aspirations to a decent and improved standard of living with a fragile environment. One of the most important aspects in which we have directed our efforts is in  understanding and valuing our biodiversity. Research projects such as those on migrating birds, genetic variety for oak trees and its contribution to coffee crops, the positive impact of shaded coffee crops on native species as Andean night monkeys, are examples of our comprehensive view on this area. Also, based on this knowledge, we have developed tools for biodiversity conservation that can to be used by Coffee Growers in a joint effort for the conservation or our environment and biodiversity.