Julius Meinl, The J.M. Smucker Co., and Tchibo, in collaboration with the independent foundation Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung (HRNS), have announced a joint initiative aimed at developing a Climate-Smart Coffee Region (CSCRHonduras) in western Honduras. This project, which is open to additional partners interested in contributing, will span four years from 2025 to 2029 and will focus on the departments of Ocotepeque, Copán, and Lempira.
The initiative aims to enhance the livelihoods of small coffee producers, restore ecosystems, and build local institutional capacity. It is expected to provide direct support to approximately 4,000 families of small producers, impacting around 6,000 hectares of coffee land and involving 20 farmer organizations. The implementation of the project will be overseen by HRNSHonduras.
Transforming coffee landscapes into climate-smart systems is a core objective of the project. Leveraging 15 years of field experience through the Coffee and Climate initiative, of which these three coffee companies are members, the project will utilize established climate adaptation tools. These will include soil and water conservation techniques, coffee agroforestry, erosion control, microclimate monitoring, and domestic innovations such as energy-efficient stoves and water-saving devices. The focus will be on transforming vulnerable coffee landscapes, particularly in communities located near protected areas like Celaque, Erapuca, Las Minas, and Volcán Pacayita.
Financial education, women”s leadership, and youth entrepreneurship will also be fundamental aspects of the project. Monitoring and evaluation will be conducted using recognized frameworks such as Enveritas, ensuring transparency, impact measurement, and adaptive learning.
“The western region of Honduras has significant ecological wealth, but it is increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Irregular rainfall, prolonged droughts, and rising temperatures have led to production declines of up to 30% and have forced coffee cultivation to move into ecologically sensitive mountainous areas,” stated Theresa Ruperti, program director of HRNS for the CSCR Honduras project. “By linking coffee productivity, community resilience, and ecosystem conservation, CSCR Honduras supports farmers” livelihoods and positions western Honduras as a model for climate-smart coffee cultivation that positively impacts biodiversity in Central America.”
“This project represents a significant milestone for Julius Meinl, marking the first landscape initiative of our Generations Program. Its uniqueness lies in the collaborative spirit driving it. We are partnering with a diverse group of key stakeholders, including other coffee roasters, to tackle common challenges through a pre-competitive landscape approach. We look forward to learning, innovating, and finding impactful ways to create a future where coffee, communities, and nature thrive,” said Carina Needham, Global Sustainability Director of Julius Meinl 1862 GmbH.
The governance model of the CSCR Honduras project is notably robust, coordinated through inter-municipal platforms (Higuito and MAPANCE) that will align municipalities, civil society, and local stakeholders around shared climate objectives. Additionally, the Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE) will play a crucial technical role in farmer training, research, and monitoring. The project will also establish a regional Community of Practice (CdP) to facilitate coordination, learning, and innovation among 25 local actors, supported by IHCAFE.
As a fifth-generation family business, Julius Meinl is committed to generating a positive impact across its entire value chain. Our mission focuses on sustainability, grounded in three fundamental pillars: Origin, Planet, and People.
