This superior coffee is grown on a 1,200 acre estate in northern Nicaragua’s mountains. The beans are shade grown under various native trees to enhance flavor while protecting from direct sun exposure, contributing to one of the finest organic Columbian coffees available on the market.

Coffee plantations is known to play an important role in local ecology and biodiversity by acting as buffer zones around protected areas, corridors for large mammal species, and providing income to farmers. Unfortunately, studies have demonstrated that many coffee production farms experience tree canopy reduction due to pressure from agricultural extension services intended to maximize yields (Vandermeer & Perfecto 2007).

Traditional shade coffee farming – in which coffee plants grow under dense forests of nitrogen-fixing trees – has the ability to both protect biodiversity and sustainably support smallholder farmers, while simultaneously offering viable livelihood options for them. Unfortunately, such practices are threatened in many countries by conventional production methods that rely heavily on higher yields and mechanized cultivation techniques.

Herrera et al. conducted an in-depth investigation of Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus nematodes found in various coffee management systems, and discovered their presence was significantly impacted by type. Meloidogyne densities were highest for conventional systems with no shade coverage or nitrogen fixer species, while Pratylenchus densities were lowest with organic systems including nitrogen fixer species under dense forest canopy cover.

Results suggest that using nitrogen fixer trees can significantly lower the incidence of nematodes in soil surrounding shade coffee cultivation and maintain biodiversity conservation potential. Organic matter like coffee pulp or chicken manure could further decrease populations of these nematodes in soil.