The four seasons program in Brazil is Capricornio's way of creating impact with their producers on the ground. Through this program, the producers are equipped with information and resources to tend to their coffees year around. This idea originated from Bispo's experience on the field back in the days. He observed that producers looked forward to certain commemorative dates as well as the phases of the moon as an indicator to help them do things on the field. This was the inspiration to create the Four Seasons Program. Capricornio visualized these elements in a calendar and connected activities farmer has to do for each season. Additionally, they also find it hard to set realistic expectations for price to produce amongst the local farmers in that region. A lot of farmers are used to small scale buyers paying exorbitant premiums and that sets a precedent of how much they would need to demand for their produce. Through this four seasons program, the expectation and efforts towards building a stable coffee ecosystem are being set.
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- LUIZ ROBERTO SALDANHA
FOUR SEASONS PROGRAM
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Achievements so far: Champion farmers from within the group also have the opportunity to start improving their technical knowledge on the various processing methods with Capricornio. Luiz Saldanha, the founder of Capricornio is a scientist, agronomist that has also set up a microbiology lab inside his estate that works as a testing grounds for several of these quality, production improvement projects that Capricornio strives to support within it’s farmer groups. Two of the important collectives are Women in Coffee where they work with 20 women who have produced 1500 bags of coffee since its inception in 2013. The other is a cooperative that has 380 families with smallholder farmers that have been producing specialty coffee, the income from which has allowed them to actively improve their livelihoods.
2023 update: Farmers were paid average of 17% higher for their produce for the high quality if they chose to sell it to Capricornio.What the future holds:
EMPOWERING LOCAL COLLECTIVES
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Achievements so far and 2023 updates: Women such as Maristela have been pioneering and experimenting with different processes which has been able to earn her a premium for her risks/efforts to produce really high quality coffee. Ellen Fronteira came second in the regional quality competition of Circuito das Aguas Paulistas. Furthermore, farmers in both WIC and Sao Jeronimo practise intercropping, cultivating coffee alongside complementary crops such as maize, soy, and fruit trees. This approach maximises land use efficiency and biodiversity, promoting a more resilient and sustainable agricultural system. By integrating diverse crops, farmers enhance soil health, reduce pest pressure, and increase overall farm productivity. These practices underscore the farmer group’s commitment to sustainable land management and environmental stewardship, ensuring the long-term viability of coffee production while preserving natural ecosystems.
What the future holds:
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION
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Achievement so far and 2023 update :
One such sustainable practice implemented by Capricornio is the strategic planting of different types of grass between coffee rows. This unique mix of grass consists of diverse grass species with deep root systems, which play a vital role in soil health and erosion control. The deep root systems of these grasses penetrate up to 50 metres, accessing nutrients from deeper soil layers and improving soil structure and fertility. Additionally, grass cocktails attract beneficial insects, provide organic matter to nourish coffee plants, and regulate soil temperature and moisture levels. This process was developed in house at the microbiology laboratory and is currently being piloted across the farmer groups that work with This Side Up as part of the regenerative premium.
What does the future holds: Climate change and adaptation, mitigation measures are identified . Reduction of fossil fuels. Use of inter crops between rows to make better use of water. Encouraging the use of biological pest and disease controls.
