Café Orgánico Marcala (COMSA) was founded in 2001 with a vision of creating new and alternative development opportunities for small-scale coffee farmers in the region of Marcala, Honduras. At that time, the predominant production system in the region relied on conventional (chemical) practices and sales to the local coyotes, often at prices below production costs. COMSA’s founding vision to promote new ways of thinking – both in production, moving from conventional to organic production; and in markets, moving from commercial to specialty buyers – has positioned the organization as an absolute leader in highly productive organic agroforestry.
COMSA has 45 participating farmers in the Cool Farm Tool Pilot Project.
Founded 2001
1637 Members, 999 Organic
1200-1750 m
La Paz, Marcala,
Honduras
4177 Organic ha
Avg Farm Size: 4 ha
December-April
Varieties
Lempira, lhcafé 90, Parainema, Catuai, Catimor...
Fair Trade
Organic
Washed
Honey
Washed: Raisin, caramel, milk chocolate, tobacco
In 2016, COMSA launched the Diplomado Organico, a week-long intensive training program that not only teaches innovative organic farming techniques, but also helps broaden perspectives for small-scale farmers on the relationship between their work, the ecosystem and the health of communities on both sides of the supply chain.
COMSA’s carbon performance results demonstrate the incredible potential of organic agroforestry in its maximum expression, sequestering more carbon than it emits. Their leadership also shows that organized smallholder farmers understand what they need and create better solutions than any external party ever could.
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Honduras is a relatively young coffee origin, averaging larger landholdings managed by farmers willing to innovate for increased sustainability. However, low coffee market prices contribute to migration by failing to recognize the long-term value of this form of land management. To ensure ongoing growth of the sector, COMSA will continue to focus on encouraging increased productivity, soil regeneration, and more, so that the broader sector recognizes and values such innovative efforts. They are investing environmental service premiums from this pilot in coffee tree renovation using high-quality, resilient varietals, and increasing shade tree density with a focus on food security benefits.
With a history of sugar cane farming, the soils in El Trapiche had suffered significant degradation. In 1996, Oscar Alonzo embarked on coffee production with intensive irrigation. In 2001, he joined COMSA aiming to shift to organic farming to secure better prices. In 2007, he renamed his farm to “Cual Bicicleta” (Which Bicycle) after realizing that in order to ride a bicycle, you are supposed to maintain balance as you pedal forever forward.
Oscar is a model farmer at COMSA, upholding excellent production practices. He actively engages in his community, protecting water sources through reforestation. His Cool Farm Tool footprint reveals an impressive carbon sequestration rate of 9.1 kg per kg of green coffee produced. Oscar has also achieved first place in the regional Marcala Cup of Excellence competition.
Miriam “Bety” Perez, a third generation coffee farmer with over two decades of experience, is a respected leader in Marcala. She has become a fervent advocate for gender equality and fair trade in the coffee industry. Bety’s journey began with her grandfather’s initial hesitation to involve women in coffee farming. However, he eventually entrusted her mother with her own coffee farm, and Bety actively contributed on the farm to help her single mother.
“Today, I remain an organic coffee producer, aspiring to pass down this legacy to my four children and instill in them the same vision and values of cultivating coffee in harmony with nature.”
Bety’s Cool Farm Tool footprint showcases the possibility of maintaining a highly productive, carbon-negative coffee farm characterized by substantial shade tree density.
Growing up amidst coffee trees, Alba Rosa’s passion for coffee was cultivated early on. Upon joining COMSA in 2011, she delved into organic farming practices and embraced COMSA's philosophy, particularly the "5Ms" and the concept of "La Finca Humana" (Human Farm), which has become integral to her family's life.
As a woman and dedicated producer, Alba Rosa enjoys learning and embraces new challenges, implementing techniques that enhance the environmental sustainability and quality of her coffee. Her journey exemplifies how, as producers, they contribute to the environment through their commitment to producing high-quality organic coffee.
Alba Rosa’s Cool Farm Tool footprint illustrates the value of organic fertilization for soil carbon capture.
