Productivity, Sustainability, and Livelihoods

In 2023, members of the Villa Ecologica coffee cooperative in Peru voted to invest their Fair Trade Community Development Funds in a wide range of programs to improve members' lives and build long-term resilience in the coffee sector. Recognizing that productivity begins with healthy soil, the cooperative invested over US $75,000 in enriched organic compost, an essential input for supporting sustainable farming practices and improving yields without degrading soil. US $30,000 was designated for training and technical assistance to help members produce coffee sustainably. Members received training on how to restore degraded plots, conserve water, and manage biodiversity, among other related topics. Additional investments included distributing egg-laying hens to members to bolster household food security, helping to cover the costs of organic and Fair Trade certification, productivity training, and supplying vehicles and other field equipment to members. Together, these investments reflect a cooperative taking a thoughtful, long-term approach to their own financial and ecological sustainability and the well-being of their members.