Jakarta – The initiative for coffee&climate (c&c) has launched a new interactive web app, the c&c toolbox, aimed at supporting smallholder coffee farmers and agronomists worldwide in adopting climate-smart coffee cultivation techniques, the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung said in a statement Friday, September 13. The toolbox, available for free at www.toolbox.coffee, is accessible in multiple languages and provides practical, step-by-step guides through videos, graphics, and descriptions. It is designed for use even in low-bandwidth areas on smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
With smallholder farmers accounting for 80% of global coffee production, the impact of climate change—ranging from prolonged droughts to increased pests—poses significant challenges. The c&c toolbox seeks to bridge the gap between scientific research and farmers’ practical know-how, offering tools to help mitigate these impacts. Victor Komakech, Climate Change Coordinator at Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung Uganda, highlighted the rising interest among younger farmers in digital tools to improve their farming practices.
The toolbox serves as a comprehensive knowledge hub, promoting climate-smart practices that enhance resilience, foster biodiversity, and support livelihoods. “In order to have a liable and thriving future, farmers need to move away from outdated practices to innovative and adaptive approaches,” said Stefan Ruge, Program Manager at coffee&climate.
Supported by a coalition of coffee companies and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the toolbox is the result of years of collaboration between farmers, experts, and researchers. Over 133,000 farming households have already been trained in climate-smart techniques.
The c&c initiative continues to expand globally, aiming to empower farmers with the resources to thrive amid climate change challenges. (nsh)
