Samenvatting

The following report writes about the implementation of sustainable farming practices,as a way of mitigating deforestation and environmental degradation in Central- and South America. The knowledge gap was to which extent sustainable farming practices around the world may be implemented in Central and South American coffee farms, in order to lower their environmental impact. Thus, the objective of this research was to indicate which mitigation strategies the coffee supply chain could implement on the farm level, that may help to stop deforestation and environmental degradation in Central- and South America. The scope was to create an outline of sustainable farming practices in the coffee sector, for EU policymakers to look at in order to potentially reevaluate the new EU anti-deforestation law.Therefore the following main research question was developed: “To what extent can the coffee supply chain mitigate environmental degradation and deforestation in coffee-producing regions in Central- and South America?”. The main research question was answered, by analyzing the causes of environmental degradation, biodiversity loss,sustainable farming alternatives, the role of certification programs, and the EU anti-de forestation law’s impact.Mitigation strategies such as permaculture, promoting agroforestry, and eliminating pesticides are promising, as results from communities like Oxapampa, Peru, showed.Coffee farming's influence in deforestation activities is less significant than perceived,with primary deforestation drivers being pasture creation (71.4%) and cropland (14%).Biodiversity loss is tied to the intensity of farm management; as sun-grown coffee is more labor intense than shade-grown coffee, it reduces biodiversity more than shade-grown coffee practices. Shade-grown coffee practices are beneficial for the environment and also lower the likeliness of deforestation due to their economic significance. Agroforestry systems are sustainable, benefitting the environment and diversifying farmer income. While certification programs prioritize farmer welfare, the yalso stress environmental conservation. The EU's new law aims to counter global deforestation but might affect sustainable practices' EU import eligibility.The conclusion suggests the shift from sun-grown to shade-grown coffee reduces but doesn't eradicate the impact on Central and South American coffee-producing regions.Reforestation incentives from the EU towards farmers, like payments, tax reliefs, or premium prices for coffee from reforested lands, are recommended. These can reverse past deforestation damages and promote forest growth. Agroforestry systems can rejuvenate deforested areas, supporting biodiversity and offering communities alternatives to deforestation.