Each producer that contributes to the lot has to fulfil several environmental criteria, including planting native shade trees and growing secondary crops to enrich their soils

Brazil

Mococa

These producers from across the region of Mococa all practice polyculture farming. They have either planted or preserved native shade trees, and also grow secondary crops, such as wheat, fruits or vegetables. Many these fix nitrogen into the soil, which benefits the coffee crop without using chemical additions. There is an overall aversion to chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and although they are used occasionally used in cases of severe disease or fungal infections in the coffee crop, this is miniscule in comparison to wider Brazilian coffee production. All of this together creates a wild and natural habitat for native wildlife, especially birds in the high shade trees. This also gives rise to the name of the project, the Portuguese name for the native ‘New World Blackbird’ which is seen across the region - Bobolink.