Building a Climate Resilient Future for Costa Rica’s Coffee Farming Communities

The document examines the vulnerability of coffee cultivation in the Coto Brus region of Costa Rica, where up to 50% of suitable land may be lost by 2050. It identifies a gap between the awareness of sustainable practices and their implementation, particularly among resource-limited smallholders. The report argues that current short-term incremental adjustments are insufficient and advocates for 'transformative adaptation,' which includes diversifying incomes, replanting with resilient varieties, and potentially shifting livelihoods for farmers in areas where coffee is no longer viable.

• Projections indicate that by 2050, without adaptation measures, up to 50% of the land currently suitable for coffee cultivation in Coto Brus could become unsuitable, regardless of whether low or high emissions pathways occur. While some locations may see increased suitability, central areas are expected to be more negatively impacted.
• There is a significant gap in the implementation of adaptation measures in Coto Brus. Although there is general awareness of sustainable practices, few farmers integrate adaptation into their formal planning, and smallholders with fewer resources are lagging further behind.
• The coffee sector is currently relying on small, short-term incremental adjustments that are likely insufficient for long-term survival against intensifying climate impacts. The document argues for 'transformative adaptation,' which may involve fundamental changes such as altering the production landscape, employing new technologies at scale, or shifting the mix of crops and livestock.
• To improve resilience, the report recommends several actions: diversifying farmer incomes, replanting with climate-resilient coffee varieties, establishing monitoring baselines, mapping future viability to support farmers shifting away from coffee, providing tailored business education, and expanding peer-to-peer learning.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Building a Climate Resilient Future for Costa Rica’s Coffee Farming Communities. https://www.wri.org/research/building-climate-resilient-future-costa-ricas-coffee-farming-communities

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Building a Climate Resilient Future for Costa Rica’s Coffee Farming Communities. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/building-climate-resilient-future-costa-ricas-coffee-farming-communities.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Building a Climate Resilient Future for Costa Rica’s Coffee Farming Communities |url=https://www.wri.org/research/building-climate-resilient-future-costa-ricas-coffee-farming-communities |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendbuilding, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Building a Climate Resilient Future for Costa Rica’s Coffee Farming Communities}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/building-climate-resilient-future-costa-ricas-coffee-farming-communities}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }