Abstract
The overarching goal of this study was to investigate the long-term sustainability of the San Miguel Escobar coffee cooperative associated with a non-governmental organization whose name has been omitted by request. A computer simulation determined that while coffee yields are projected to increase at a positive rate during the period 2012-17, by 2020 the cooperative would see decreases of approximately 5000 lbs. per year for the following five years. Yield levels following the first decrease would rebound to near their previous highs before the cooperative will be faced with a major challenge, dealing with an overwhelmingly high proportion of trees reaching the end of their productive life cycles in the years between 2035 and 2045. The result of these natural cycles is a decrease in yield of roughly 16,000 lbs. over a period of seven years. The focus of this report will be the investigation of possible strategies aimed at mitigating the unsteady yield projections in order to ensure sustainable economic development for the coffee farmers in the cooperative.
Recommended Citation
Pilosov, Michael
(2014)
"Long-Term Sustainability of Cooperative-Wide Coffee Yields in San Miguel Escobar, Guatemala,"
Proceedings of GREAT Day: Vol. 2013, Article 8.
Available at:
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/proceedings-of-great-day/vol2013/iss1/8