Brewing the Future of Coffee: How Farmers Are Adapting to Global Trends

Brazil: Efficiency at Scale

Brazil has long been the powerhouse of coffee, producing more beans than any other country. Both arabica and robusta thrive here, across vast farms that stretch for thousands of hectares. Unlike the hand-picked cherries of Ethiopia, Brazilian farms are highly mechanized, with efficiency and scale at the heart of operations.

For many years, these plantations relied on pivots, sprinklers, and rainfall. But as farms grew, the need for greater precision and consistency became clear. That’s where drip irrigation came in. About 20 years ago, Netafim Brazil, working with local cooperatives, introduced subsurface drip systems designed specifically for coffee. These systems deliver water and nutrients directly to the roots, hidden underground to avoid mechanical damage.

The results were transformative. Yields that traditionally hovered at 20–30 bags per hectare under rainfed conditions can now reach 70–80 bags per hectare with drip. For robusta, yields can climb even higher — from 40 bags per hectare to over 100. Since 1996, more than 160,000 hectares of Brazilian coffee have been drip irrigated with Netafim systems, helping stabilize production in the face of increasingly erratic rainfall and longer dry periods.

One farm that illustrates this transformation is William Ferreira's AGAM farm in Pedregulho, São Paulo. With 370 hectares of coffee, 100 of them under Netafim drip, the family has been growing Catuai Amarelo and Arara varieties for over 60 years. Like most Brazilian growers, they once relied on rainfall alone. But rising costs for labor and water, combined with inconsistent yields, drove their decision to switch. Since adopting drip with fertigation and digital farming tools like GrowSphere, they’ve doubled productivity, from 30 to 70 bags per hectare, while cutting water use and labor needs.

Brazil shows the world what’s possible when efficiency at scale meets innovation. By combining mechanization, precision irrigation, and digital farming, growers are producing more coffee, with less waste — a model that sustains farmer livelihoods while feeding global demand.

Vietnam: Robusta’s Rise

While Brazil dominates arabica, Vietnam is the king of robusta. For decades, robusta was considered “lower quality” — stronger, more bitter, and usually reserved for blends. But the global coffee scene has changed. Capsule machines and instant coffee have fueled an unprecedented rise in robusta demand, pushing prices higher and giving farmers new opportunities.

Traditionally, Vietnam’s robusta was rainfed, with irrigation seen as too costly for smallholder farmers. Water was often applied by hand or with sprinklers, requiring heavy labor and leading to uneven results. As demand and prices climbed, however, irrigation became not only feasible but essential to expand into drier areas and ensure consistent yields.

Netafim has been working with Vietnamese farmers to make this transition possible. By introducing drip irrigation and fertigation, farmers can save up to 50% of water, cut labor needs in half, and reduce fertilizer use by 20–30%, while still improving yields. These efficiencies are critical in a country where prolonged droughts and shifting rainfall patterns increasingly threaten coffee production.

One farmer who has lived this change is Nguyễn An Khê from Đắk Lắk province. With over 40 years of experience in coffee, he cultivates 16.5 hectares of robusta. In the past, he irrigated by hand or sprinkler, consuming 12–15 tank loads of water per round. Since adopting Netafim drip, he has seen dramatic savings, halving both water use and labor costs, while also reducing fertilizer inputs. More importantly, his yields are stronger and more consistent, with his farm now entering full commercial production under drip. As he says, “This tool makes my coffee farming much easier and more sustainable.”

Vietnam’s story shows how global market shifts, in this case, the rising demand for robusta, can unlock technological adoption. With drip irrigation, smallholders like Nguyễn An Khê are no longer bound by rain cycles but can grow resiliently, sustainably, and profitably in a changing climate.

Costa Rica: Powered by Sustainability

In Costa Rica, coffee is more than an export crop, it’s part of the national identity. The country has built its reputation on high-quality arabica beans, but today its coffee sector is also at the center of global sustainability conversations. With the European Union’s no-deforestation requirements set to take effect in 2025, Costa Rica is preparing to align its production with the strictest environmental standards, ensuring its coffee continues to stand out on international markets.

Unlike many producing countries, Costa Rica prohibits robusta cultivation, making arabica quality and innovation the keys to competitiveness. Farmers and agronomists increasingly see drip irrigation not as an option, but as “harvest insurance” against climate variability. When irrigation is implemented from the start of a plantation, production times shorten, fertigation becomes more precise, and yields can rise dramatically — as seen at Majolu farm, where harvests nearly doubled from 20 to 40 fanegas, with some plots reaching 100.

A standout example is the Santa Anita Coffee Farm, the first coffee farm and processing facility in the world to be certified as Carbon Neutral. Netafim contributed to this achievement by supplying irrigation and filtration systems across much of the cultivated area. Step by step, drip irrigation helped Santa Anita reduce its footprint while improving resilience, supported by ongoing agronomic service to keep advancing through the next stages of transformation.

Costa Rica’s story shows that sustainability and premium quality can go hand in hand. By embracing regenerative practices, from enriching soils with biological organisms to planting fruit trees alongside coffee, and by investing in technologies like precision irrigation, the country is positioning itself not just as a producer of exceptional arabica, but as a global model for sustainable agriculture.

Looking Ahead

The future of coffee will not be without challenges. Climate change continues to push traditional growing zones to their limits. Farmers must contend with unpredictable weather, rising production costs, and shifting consumer habits.

Yet if there’s one constant in the story of coffee, it’s the resilience and ingenuity of growers. From Brazil’s vast plantations, to Vietnam’s robusta fields, to Costa Rica’s quest to produce coffee sustainably, farmers are proving their ability to adapt and innovate. They experiment with new techniques, adopt technologies that were once unthinkable, and find ways to keep a centuries-old crop relevant in a changing world.

As we mark International Coffee Day, it’s worth remembering that the future of coffee doesn’t rest only in cafés or markets, but in the determination of those who cultivate it. Their adaptability and creativity will ensure that coffee continues to connect people and cultures for generations to come.