The paradoxes of climate-smart coffee (PACSMAC)

Abstract:

PACSMAC addresses sustainable development and climate change by studying prospects for climate-smart coffee using a multidisciplinary approach. Facing increasing temperatures and precipitation changes, farmers are testing new planting techniques and genetic varietals. PACSMAC explores these activities and how power dynamics across Global Value Chains (GVCs) affect opportunities for and benefits from climate adaptation, addressing three questions:-How does climate change adaptation affect the governance of Ethiopia and Tanzania’s coffee value chains?-How does adaptation affect the distribution of value along the chain, upgrading opportunities and farmer livelihoods?-How does adaptation reshape coffee production and forest cover geographies?Our findings will identify ways climate-smart agriculture can support livelihoods and climate mitigation and adaptation, contributing to the United Nations Strategy 2030. While the efforts we study are intended to address SDG 13 (Climate Action), their application in a GVC also may involve trade-offs for SDG 8 (Decent Work), 12 (Sustainable Production and Consumption), and 14 (Life on Land).