Why Drink Organic Coffee?

Even though coffee has many health benefits, (studies have shown that coffee may protect you from type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, liver and Parkinson’s disease), most coffee brands can contain pesticides, herbicides, and mold toxins (mycotoxins) which can all have harmful effects on your health.

Coffee is the number one pesticide sprayed crop in the world. Because coffee beans are so expensive compared to other crops, farmers will do everything it takes to protect their crops from various pests using pesticides the use of fertilizers to help them grow. Mass production of coffee requires land, so farmers must clear out rainforests and trees to utilize the land needed for production. When the trees are stripped from the lush rainforest land, there's direct sunlight on the coffee bean, causing the immune system of the plant to weaken, creating a vulnerable environment where the crop is more susceptible to pests and insects.

Many of the pesticides and insecticides sprayed directly on the crops end up in the coffee that people drink on a daily basis and therefore harm our bodies. These chemicals also cause damage to the soil and pollute the local water supply. Furthermore, workers who have tremendous exposure to these chemicals suffer greatly.

In Brazil for example, the world's largest coffee producer and pesticide consumer, chemical pesticide use increased by 190% in a single decade. Estimates show that roughly 38 million kilograms of pesticides are used annually in Brazilian coffee production.

And since 2019, 475 new pesticides have been approved in Brazil. More than a third of these are not approved in the EU due to their toxicity. In addition to Brazil, the majority of reports on the effects of pesticides are from areas in Colombia, Jamaica and Nicaragua, all areas with high biodiversity, fragile  ecosystems and resource-poor rural populations. Studies from other countries report similar pesticide-driven consequences. For example, a study from the Dominican Republic demonstrated that coffee plantation workers exposed to pesticides experienced a significantly higher frequency of cellular changes.

Researchers point to a variety of strategies as sustainable alternatives to traditional chemicals. One of them is agroforestry, the cultivation of crops and trees on the same land. This method would return coffee growing back to the coffee plant's roots. The coffee plant originated thousands of years ago in an environment shaded by a rich array of plants, shrubs and trees in southwestern Ethiopia. This is the traditional way Ethiopian farmers grow coffee. It often has the advantages of minimizing pests and diseases while strengthening plant health, biodiversity and ecosystems.

Furthermore, agroforestry diversifies a farmer's income revenues as profits can be earned on both the coffee beans and secondary farm products such as wood, livestock feed or fodder and other tropical cash crops such as vanilla or cinnamon.

There is the challenge that some pests and diseases will tend to thrive in such a system, so deciding on which combination of plants and trees offers the most value for the farmer has to be considered and must be carefully planned.

In the meantime, if you want to reduce harmful toxins and chemicals in your coffee, purchase certified organic coffee that is free of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, and other potentially harmful chemicals. Also, purchase beans from an organic fair-trade company that also is committed to supporting and partnering with small-scale farmer organizations throughout the world. Love Whole Foods carries several excellent, locally roasted certified organic coffees, available in our bulk bins and in bags. Grind yourself in-store for a perfect fresh flavor!