Organic coffee is one of the world’s most beloved beverages and organically-grown beans are proven to provide more antioxidants and other health benefits while benefiting the environment and people involved with its cultivation.

Chemical use in conventional coffee farming can be detrimental to both the natural environment and its workers. Overexposure to chemicals often leads to health problems in those working on farms. Pesticides and insecticides sprayed onto plants also pollute our water supplies as well as build-up toxic chemicals in soil, with toxic substances entering our bloodstream through coffee consumption absorbed through skin absorption or through our skin into bloodstream. Organic agricultural practices ensure our food and drink remain free of these toxins.

Organic farmers strive to avoid harmful pesticides and fertilizers while encouraging biodiversity on their land, contributing to our belief that organic coffee tastes better by supporting and nurturing its surroundings. A study published in 2024 Food Quality and Preference discovered that consumers’ purchase intentions toward organic coffee were determined both by emotional enjoyment of its taste as well as environmental considerations when making purchase decisions.

As evidence of this fact, our experience on an organic farm in Karnataka, India revealed that its 20 acre certified organic farm supported 26 species of migratory birds while its neighboring 100km conventional cropland only supported 3 of those.

Coffee cultivation and harvesting is a labor-intensive process, yet for small scale producers the premium that organic farming brings often outweighs any increased operational costs. Small scale producers must bear additional expenses such as integrated pest management fees, manual weeding and pruning expenses, shade-growth issues and third party agents visiting their farm; all expenses that coffee farmers must endure to make a living.

Tropysync and other green buyers and roasters hope that by offering premiums for organic coffee farming practices, Tropysync can support and encourage smaller farms in developing nations to adopt organic production techniques again. Many smallholder farmers cannot afford the higher costs associated with organic production; thus resorting back to non-organic methods. It is our hope that by offering these premiums we will help sustain these farmers as they transition back to organic practices.

While smallscale farmers may take time to switch back to organic agriculture, the organic movement is steadily gathering momentum. Large sustainable coffee companies and co-ops that support organic farmers provide capital that allows farmers to invest in land and equipment necessary for making the change, while increased remuneration associated with organic coffee production provides further incentive. Tropysync hopes these premiums continue to rise over time to benefit not only consumers, but also farmers as well as environmental health.