The Power of Proximity: Why Working Side by Side with Farmer Families Matters
We are deep in the coffee fields of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Juliana Cabral walks down the driveway of farmer Auxiliadora dos Santos Peixoto, someone she knows well. As they meet on the porch, the two women burst into cheers, embracing like old school friends reunited after years apart. But in reality, it’s "just" a routine visit as part of an HRNS-implemented project, though it feels like something much more special.
At Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung (HRNS), we recognize that sustainable progress in coffee farming requires strong, long-term partnerships with farming families. Our approach is centered on collaboration—working closely with farmers to develop practical solutions that address their specific challenges.
Partnership: The Center of HRNS Work
By engaging directly with farming communities, HRNS technicians ensure that knowledge transfer is effective, adaptable, and rooted in real-world application. This commitment aligns with HRNS’s mission to strengthen the livelihoods of smallholder coffee farmers through locally adapted strategies and farmer-centric development. Our partners recognize and appreciate that our collaborative approach delivers tangible, real-world impact. Organizations such as Tim Hortons, Keurig Dr Pepper, GrowGrounds, Löfbergs, and International Coffee Partners (ICP) support our work in Brazil because they see the value in solutions that are not only sustainable but also directly benefit farming families. This shared commitment to practical and lasting improvements is at the heart of our cooperation.
This can be seen best on the ground in real world examples:
Knowledge-Based Collaboration for Sustainable Change
Sebastiao de Lima Bento, a coffee farmer in São Francisco de Paula, Minas Gerais, embodies the value of practical, knowledge-driven support. Born into coffee farming, he started with 2,200 trees and now cultivates 20,000. However, like many smallholders, he also works outside agriculture to maintain financial stability. Through the initiative for coffee&climate (c&c), Sebastiao adopted improved cultivation techniques, focusing on soil health and biodiversity. One key shift was reducing agrochemical use, a transition that improved his coffee quality, safeguarded the environment and saves him money. HRNS’s role was not to prescribe solutions but to work with Sebastiao in implementing tailored practices that met his farm’s needs.
Other organizations come to sell products. HRNS comes to bring real solutions.
Climate Resilience Through Innovation
Sebastiao and his wife, Helia, were early adopters of agroforestry in their region, implementing shade trees and windbreaks a decade ago. These measures have contributed to stronger plant health, better soil conditions, and improved cup quality. More recently, they established a demonstration plot within the GrowGrounds pilot project with syntropic carbon farming incorporating cover crops, organic inputs, and water retention techniques. By testing and refining methods alongside farmers, HRNS ensures that climate adaptation strategies are both viable and effective in real-world conditions.
We must act on climate change, but always with families in mind. Innovation should empower, not burden.
Knowledge Transfer at Every Scale
Even on smaller farms, HRNS’s approach fosters meaningful change. Jair and his wife farm just two hectares but have improved their productivity and resource management through project participation. They developed a vegetable garden, implemented an irrigation system, and began supplying produce to a local school feeding program. Since their farm lacks internet access, HRNS technicians maintain direct contact through in-person visits, ensuring continued knowledge exchange.
Long-Term Impact and Family Farming
Joaquim Fernandes Peixoto and his wife have been engaged with International Coffee Partners (ICP) from the outset, integrating sustainable practices such as the use of biopesticides. The project also enabled Joaquin’s wife to expand her role within the farm, completing a cupping course and contributing to quality assessment. By involving multiple family members in knowledge-building activities, HRNS strengthens farm resilience across generations.
Similarly, Mauro Rufino, an independent farmer, illustrates how technical guidance can enhance individual efficiency. Managing his farm alone, he faced challenges in record-keeping but adopted the Coffee Farm Field Notebook with HRNS’s support. This tool has helped him track investments and optimize his farm’s management. Despite working independently and not having capacities to implement large scale changes, he applies sustainable practices such as natural grasses as cover crops, demonstrating that targeted support can drive improvement at any scale.
Inspiration for Change: Empowering Women and Young Entrepreneurs
HRNS’s impact goes beyond technical support—it fosters empowerment and long-term transformation. Auxiliadora, a mother from Santo Antônio do Amparo, transitioned from observing farming activities to leading her own coffee production. With encouragement and guidance from HRNS technician Juliana, she gained confidence, experimented with new techniques, and became an active participant in her family’s farm. Today, she not only cultivates coffee but also shares her knowledge with others, demonstrating the ripple effect of inclusive support. When the two women meet it seems to be a long awaited reunion of childhood friends.
Similarly, her daughter Rosiane, who turned her passion for coffee into Aurora’s Coffee, a brand she built from her family’s farm. She built her own cupping and roasting room, deepening her passion for specialty coffee. By leveraging social media, she now sells 80 kg of coffee per month, handling marketing, packaging, and customer engagement herself. With HRNS’ guidance, she has transformed from a coffee producer into a business owner, proving that young farmers can create new opportunities in agriculture.
Collaboration for Solutions
HRNS’ close collaboration with farmers ensures that solutions are practical, relevant, and sustainable. By building strong relationships and adapting strategies to the realities of farming families, HRNS contributes to long-term resilience and improved livelihoods. This commitment to partnership - not just as an implementer, but as a trusted collaborator with families and our funding partners - remains central to HRNS’ mission in agricultural and smallholder families development.
