Examining how climate change is reshaping coffee production in Socorro, Santander, and the adaptive strategies for resilience
Every morning, millions worldwide begin their day with the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Few realize that this ancestral beverage, deeply rooted in our culture and social rituals, faces an existential threat that could forever alter its availability, quality, and price.
Families supported by coffee farming in Colombia 2
Increase in days over 30°C in Socorro over 20 years
Maximum crop losses in some regions due to climate impacts
"Climate change constitutes one of the greatest risks to the security of the global coffee supply chain, given the plant's sensitivity to variations in temperature and precipitation." 3
In the mountains of Santander, Colombia, where Castillo coffee from the Majavita Farm in the municipality of Socorro has flourished for generations, a silent battle is being waged against the forces of climate change. As the International Coffee Organization (ICO) warns, climate change represents one of the most significant risks to coffee supply chain security globally 3 .
Developed by Colombian research in response to growing phytosanitary threats in coffee plantations, particularly coffee rust (Hemileia vastatrix), the Castillo variety represents a milestone in Arabica coffee breeding. This cultivar owes its name not to medieval structures but to its fortified resistance against one of the most devastating pathogens for coffee plantations worldwide.
Coffee rust, caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix, is considered the most devastating disease for coffee plantations globally . Although it was controlled for decades through the development of resistant varieties, current climatic conditions and the emergence of more aggressive strains have intensified the crisis.
Castillo presents a compact vegetative architecture that favors photosynthetic efficiency and facilitates harvesting practices. Its main advantages include:
These characteristics make Castillo a strategic cultivar to face current climate challenges, although its yield remains susceptible to extreme temperature and humidity variations.
Genetic protection against coffee rust and other fungal diseases
Efficient architecture for optimal photosynthesis and harvesting
Moderate tolerance to water stress conditions
Stable performance across different elevation ranges
To understand how climate factors associated with climate change affect Castillo coffee in Santander, an experimental design inspired by previous research conducted in Nariño, Colombia was implemented 4 . The study was established at the Majavita Farm, located in the municipality of Socorro, where experimental plots were monitored distributed across three clearly differentiated altitudinal ranges:
Throughout a complete productive cycle, systematic measurements of key climatic variables were taken, including photosynthetically active radiation, ambient temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity. Simultaneously, physiological and growth parameters were evaluated such as plant height, number of leaves, stem basal diameter, number of primary and secondary branches, primary branch length, number of nodes per branch, and leaf area index 4 .
This comprehensive methodological approach allowed quantification of specific responses of Castillo coffee to variable microclimatic conditions, providing valuable insights into its phenotypic plasticity and acclimation capacity facing environmental stress.
The data collected at Majavita Farm revealed differentiated patterns in the vegetative development of Castillo coffee according to the altitudinal gradient.
| Physiological Variable | Low Zone (<1600 masl) | Medium Zone (1600-1800 masl) | High Zone (>1800 masl) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Height (cm) | 58.3 | 67.1 | 79.9 |
| Number of Leaves | 124.5 | 136.8 | 145.2 |
| Stem Basal Diameter (mm) | 28.7 | 32.3 | 30.1 |
| Number of Primary Branches | 7.2 | 8.5 | 9.3 |
| Number of Secondary Branches | 24.6 | 28.7 | 32.4 |
| Leaf Area Index | 3.8 | 4.5 | 5.2 |
Source: Adapted from experimental data 4
Negative correlation of maximum temperatures with productivity parameters (values close to -0.75) indicates thermal stress as a key limiting factor 4
Castillo coffee, like all varieties of Coffea arabica, depends on precise climatic signals to synchronize its most important phenological transitions, particularly flowering and maturation. Research shows that elevated temperatures alter floral induction periods, while irregular rainfall causes uneven and extended flowering, increasing harvesting costs 2 .
At Majavita Farm, a progressive shortening of the interval between flowering and harvest has been documented, going from approximately 8-9 months to 7-8 months in the last decade. This compression of the phenological cycle directly impacts cup quality by reducing the time available for the accumulation of sugars and aromatic compounds in the bean.
Global warming is reconfiguring the geographical distribution of pathogens that were previously confined to warm low-altitude areas. Coffee rust (Hemileia vastatrix) has demonstrated a worrying ability to adapt to new thermal conditions, expanding to mountainous regions where it previously did not thrive .
Recent research indicates that the increase in global mean temperature and irregular rainfall patterns have accelerated the expansion of rust in areas where it previously did not thrive, severely affecting local producers . In some regions, these conditions have caused losses of up to 75% , threatening the economic sustainability of farms like Majavita.
Temperatures above 30°C seriously compromise net photosynthesis in Castillo coffee by denaturing key enzymes of the Calvin cycle and increasing nighttime respiration rates. When nighttime temperatures do not drop sufficiently, the plant accelerates its respiratory metabolism, consuming energy reserves that should be allocated to growth and grain filling 3 .
Under moderate water stress conditions, Castillo coffee showed an interesting adaptive response, redirecting resources to the root system (15% increase) at the expense of aerial development 4 . However, under severe stress, all physiological parameters were severely compromised.
The increase in global mean temperature and irregular rainfall patterns have accelerated the expansion of rust in areas where it previously did not thrive , creating new challenges for coffee growers even with resistant varieties like Castillo.
Days with maximum temperature above 30°C increased by 42% over twenty years in Socorro, Santander, according to local records.
This recurrent thermal stress partly explains the progressive reduction in yields documented by coffee growers in the region.
Under water stress conditions, Castillo coffee shows varied physiological responses:
Recovery to 85% of photosynthetic capacity after stress removal demonstrates resilience 4
Faced with an unfavorable climate scenario, coffee growers in Socorro have a repertoire of tools to strengthen the resilience of their crops.
Organizations like Káapeh México have developed low-cost monitoring kits that allow real-time assessment of soil health using artificial intelligence and satellite data . This technology helps producers detect favorable conditions for the appearance of rust and make informed decisions to prevent its advance .
Diversification emerges as a key strategy to reduce the economic vulnerability of coffee growers. At Majavita Farm, experimentation with the integration of complementary crops (plantain, citrus, native fruit trees) generates additional income while stabilizing the coffee plantation microclimate.
Other essential practices include:
These approaches, based on both scientific evidence and ancestral knowledge, constitute the foundation of climate-smart coffee farming capable of facing current and future challenges.
Microclimatic regulation, moisture conservation, thermal stress reduction
Implemented with native medium-sized treesReal-time soil health assessment using AI and satellite data
Requires investment for implementationImprovement of root health, increased resistance to stress
Handcrafted production with local resourcesGenetic resistance to diseases and tolerance to abiotic stress
Castillo as base with evaluation of new selectionsCoping with prolonged dry seasons and intra-seasonal droughts
Rudimentary system in expansionRegulation of photosynthetic radiation and canopy temperature
Differentiated management by lot and exposureThe analysis of Castillo coffee behavior under the influence of climate change at Majavita Farm reveals a complex reality where threats intertwine with adaptation opportunities.
The physiological data demonstrate that, although this cultivar presents comparative advantages in terms of genetic resistance to diseases, its productivity remains highly vulnerable to alterations in temperature and water regime.
Emerges as a determining factor in adaptive response
Participatory breeding for enhanced resilience
Monitoring tools for informed decision-making
The lasting solution requires a multidisciplinary approach that integrates participatory genetic improvement, accessible monitoring technologies, and differentiated public policies that recognize the territorial particularities of Socorro, Santander.
"The future of Castillo coffee in Socorro will depend on our collective capacity to increase the resilience of production systems while preserving the distinctive quality that positions Colombian coffee in the most demanding markets."
Each cup of coffee we consume contains not only the history of a region but also the silent testimony of a battle that is fought daily against the forces of climate change on the slopes of Santander.