Promoting a new generation in coffee and honey production in Chiapas.
The Programa Mexicano del Carbono (PMC) was launched in 2005 as an interdisciplinary network. It brings together universities, research institutes, NGOs and public institutions to develop sustainable, low-carbon solutions for Mexico's rural areas. PMC has been organized as a non-profit association since 2009. Through the close integration of science, local practice and public policy, application-oriented projects with a strong socio-ecological profile are created – as in Chiapas, where academic expertise, indigenous practices and civil society engagement work hand in hand.
Coffee is the backbone of the rural economy in Chiapas. With around 40% of national production, the state is indispensable for Mexico's coffee exports. At the same time, many producers and small businesses are under pressure: climate change, pest infestations, diseases and strongly fluctuating world market prices threaten the livelihoods of many families.
The pandemic has exacerbated this situation: access to digital markets remained closed to many producers for various reasons - the consequences were price losses, unsold harvests and new social inequalities. The project addresses this issue and combines traditional knowledge with modern approaches to secure the future of local value creation.
In the higher mountain regions of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, the "Sustainable Innovation with Young Coffee and Honey Farmers" project is committed to strengthening the next generation of producers. In cooperation with two coffee cooperatives and women's groups associated with them, the focus is on climate-friendly agriculture, social innovation and economic independence.
122 young people, mostly women, take part in practical training courses in agroecology, financial education and online marketing. In addition to access to knowledge, the focus is particularly on developing their own business models and long-term employment. A women-led credit and savings association creates financial leeway, for example for new beekeeping businesses or investments in coffee cultivation, and a cooperative consisting of women has now successfully established its own coffee roastery and "Café Metik" brand on the national market.
With the support of the Lemonaid & ChariTea Foundation, the salaries of specialists, training trips, material costs for beekeeping, start-up capital for the community fund and administrative expenses are financed.
Martín Bolaños González
Mail
PMC Website: https://pmcarbono.org/pmc/
Triunfo Verde Coffee Cooperative: http://www.triunfoverde.org/
Comon Yaj Noptic Coffee Cooperative: https://cafemetik.com/en/home-en/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PMCarbono/
X (Twitter): @ProgMexCarb
