Smart Net-Zero

June 6, 2025 | World Economic Forum (WEF) |

Facing rising temperatures and shrinking farmland, Colombia’s coffee industry demonstrates how agriculture can adapt through innovation and policy support. As the world’s third-largest coffee producer, Colombia risks losing up to 50% of suitable coffee-growing areas by 2050. In response, farmers adopt shade-grown practices, preserve native trees, and implement climate-smart agroforestry systems that regulate temperature and support biodiversity. Scientific investments have yielded heat- and disease-resistant coffee varieties, while eco-friendly technologies like the Ecomill® drastically reduce water use and pollution. Studies show Colombian coffee farms absorb over five times more carbon than they emit. This progress is backed by strong government leadership, including the 2021 Coffee, Forest & Climate Agreement, which unites public agencies, the private sector, and communities to promote sustainable coffee landscapes. Together with the 2023 National Agroecology Policy, Colombia offers a scalable model for climate-resilient agriculture in other vulnerable regions.