World Wildlife Day in 5 days
Bird-Friendly Coffee
How do you like to start your day? For me, freshly brewed coffee is a must-have. My current favorite is the hazelnut flavor. A cup of joe can change my mood from grumpy and sleepy to happy and cheerful! As a regular coffee drinker, I feel it’s essential to be a responsible consumer. In this article, I will share a fascinating origin story of coffee and discuss sustainable agriculture practices.
☕Discovery of Coffee
Once upon a time, somewhere in Ethiopia, there was a goat herder named Kaldi. One day, he noticed his goats behaving eccentrically — zooming around, hopping, and leaping so joyfully. “What is going on?” he thought. Upon a closer look, he saw that the goats were munching on some berries from trees. Curious, he decided to try this bright red fruit, too. It looked like a cranberry. He crunched on the seed and instantly felt more energy that lasted for hours, even into the afternoon.
He went to talk to monks who had difficulty staying awake and focused during the evening prayer. However, they were not happy to hear about the influence of this strange fruit. Disapproving as they were, they threw the berries into the fire! And an unexpected thing happened. The fresh, toasty, nutty aroma spread in the air. So enticing that they stopped the fire, picked up the roasted seeds, and brewed a drink with boiled water. There goes coffee.
What we know as coffee “beans” are, in fact, seeds from coffee cherries. Although this is more of a folktale, it is a convincing story to imagine why anybody tried to make a drink from fruit seeds. Nonetheless, drinking coffee was once considered taboo because of its addictive stimulants, according to Britannica. In some countries, like Sweden, coffee was only used as a medicine before it was made available to the public. Today, coffee has become an integral part of the culture around the world.
☕Sustainable Coffee Production
In modern times, naturally grown coffee trees are not sufficient to meet the demands of coffee lovers worldwide due to high consumption. The demand is way higher than nature can offer, and it severely impacts wildlife. The mass production of this popular morning drink has contributed to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
The Rainforest Alliance has been working with local farmers for many years to promote sustainable agriculture practices that help preserve the natural habitat of wild animals. Among the practices that the alliance advocates for is the conscious use of pesticides, which helps to minimize the negative impact of farming activities on the environment.
The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute has also promoted sustainable coffee production. After observing the declining avian population, they introduced the Migratory Bird Center in 1991. Then, they created the Bird Friendly® certification to protect the habitat for migratory birds. Their conservation efforts have brought benefits for other living beings as well. Shade tree techniques have created a nice place for birds to rest, protected coffee plants from direct sunlight, and prevented soil erosion.
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Next time you buy some mood-boosting beverages and sweets, such as coffee, tea, or chocolate, look for the Rainforest Alliance or Bird Friendly® certification logos featuring a frog or a small bird!
