Mexico and organic coffee

If we refer to Latin America, we can ensure that Mexico is the country that ranks first as far as production is concerned. Starting with coffee, followed by cocoa, vegetables, banana, lemon, among others, we see a vast world of organic foods that are produced in Mexico under the rules or organizational environment.

Somehow or another, thanks to the high costs for fertilizer and insecticides, farmers were forced to opt for another alternative to help grow their crops, making Mexico a leader in organic production in Latin America.

Notably, organic crops are enriched through composting with the aim of returning to the soil that provides nutrients through food. Among the traditional farming methods are used, there is the system of terraces or natural barriers to prevent soil erosion.

According to the research projects of Organic Agriculture, William Gamboa is now a leader in organic production in the region and the world: "Organic products not only have to do with the impact for environmental improvement, but health, eating food without chemicals," he says.

While it is noteworthy the developments in the sector has had recently, he referred to the leadership of Mexico, said that "there are still many things to do." "We need philosophy and culture on organic production," adding that not using agrochemicals also clean the environment.

Mexico has 150 thousand producers of organic food and half a million hectares devoted to cultivation. Among their favorite products are coffee and is the leading producer of organic coffee in the world. Also, organic products are exported to countries like Japan, Germany, Holland, Spain, Argentina and United States.

Organic and sustainable coffee

When we refer to Mexican coffee, we say that the product is organic and sustainable as it is achieving a balance between production efficiency and conservation of natural resources. That is, methods that are used to exploit the natural resources consumption, but not devastated.

Sustainable: The importance of coffee with regard to environmental conservation comes from the possibility of intervening in a growing number of practices to conserve and renew natural and vital resources such as water, land and air: practical conservation and recovery of soil, fertilizer substitution by agrochemicals and pesticides, organic fertilizers and biological control of pests and diseases, a more moderate use of water in the stage of industrialization of the grain.

However, when we talk about organic coffee, we refer to coffee that is used without using agrochemicals (no fertilizer, and pesticides), instead, they use fertilizer made from waste and organic matter and soil conservation work is performed too.

Features

Organic coffee in Mexico is grown under shade, i.e. the coffee bushes are grown interspersed with various trees such as orange, banana, lemon, avocado. These coffee plantations are agroforestry systems that provide many ecological and economic benefits such as: the protection and conservation of biodiversity, soil protection, regulation of rainfall, frost, winds, protect watersheds, carbon sequestration, generation and diversification of food production.

The cultivation of organic coffee is governed by international standards of production and industrialization which are monitored under a certification system that guarantees the consumer high quality coffee without synthetic chemical inputs and environmental protection.

Organic agriculture is governed under the principles of production:

• Environmentally friendly: to respect and protect the environment by using cleaner production techniques in equilibrium and harmony with nature, avoiding the destruction of natural resources in the tropics and subtropics
• Economically viable: to improve the income of producers through the surcharge that paid for organic coffee.
• Social justice: to improve the quality of life of producers and consumers.

Among the major producers of organic coffee are Mexico, Peru and Bolivia. Its main consumer countries are the European Union and the United States.

Sources: El Financiero / El Heraldo de Tabasco

(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

Loading...

About the author