For over 2 decades, COMSA has been a leader in regenerative agriculture, proving that small-scale, farmer-centered cooperatives can drive transformation on farms and across communities. To further support COMSA’s work, we are excited to highlight a new project between COMSA and Grow Ahead, a non-profit focused on supporting small-scale agroforestry projects that build climate resilience, enhance farmer livelihoods, and restore ecosystems. Together, Grow Ahead and COMSA are scaling agroforestry systems that protect both people and the planet.
Building Climate-Resilient Farms
This new project called, Enhancing Climate Resilience on Coffee Farms, will plant 160,000 trees across 4,000 acres of COMSA farmer land. These trees, ranging from shade-giving species to food and income producing crops, will:
- Restore biodiversity to farming landscapes
- Improve soil health and water retention
- Create microclimates that protect coffee from rising temperatures and extreme weather
- Provide additional food security and income for farming families
By integrating trees directly into coffee farms, COMSA farmers are not only securing their livelihoods but also contributing to global climate solutions through carbon sequestration and ecosystem restoration. The trees come from local nurseries managed and expanded by COMSA. Seedlings are raised in these nurseries and then distributed to cooperative members, who plant and maintain them on their own land.
Among the species being planted, sweet gum stands out for its ability to sequester carbon at a higher rate than many other trees. Its fast growth, dense wood, and long lifespan allow it to capture and store large amounts of carbon, making it particularly effective in the fight against climate change. Light wood species provide firewood and shade regulation for coffee plants, while hard wood species are valued for furniture-making, construction, and other long-term income-generating uses.
Examples of trees being planted for this project
Funding the Work
Roasters, businesses, and individuals can play a direct role in making this project (and so many more) possible. By purchasing COMSA coffee and partnering with Grow Ahead, roasters help finance farmer training, expand local tree nurseries, and sustain the long-term maintenance of agroforestry systems.
This work is funded through a shared model: COMSA contributes cooperative resources from coffee sales and Fairtrade funds, Grow Ahead mobilizes international crowdfunding, and roaster partners can further add their support. This blended approach ensures that the responsibility of building resilience does not fall on farmers alone.
While there is no fixed timeline for this project, COMSA and Grow Ahead are committed to long-term implementation. Tree planting and farmer training are phased in cycles that align with seasonal conditions, nursery capacity, and farmer readiness. This flexible approach ensures that the project adapts to local realities while maintaining focus on lasting impact.
Empowering Farmers Through Education
Agroforestry is most powerful when it’s farmer-led. A core part of this project invests in farmer-to-farmer training, drawing on COMSA’s decades of experience in organic and regenerative practices. Through on-the-ground workshops and peer exchanges, farmers gain the tools they need to implement and maintain agroforestry systems tailored to their land. This ensures that the project’s impact endures far beyond initial planting, becoming a self-sustaining model of climate adaptation.
Measurable Impact
This project is designed with accountability and measurable outcomes in mind. By setting clear targets, COMSA and Grow Ahead can track progress and ensure that resources are being used effectively. These benchmarks demonstrate transparency to supporters and provide a roadmap for scaling agroforestry in other regions. Each tree planted represents both an environmental gain and a direct investment in farming families’ long-term stability.
- 160,000+ trees planted across COMSA farms
- 1,200+ farming families engaged in agroforestry adoption
- 4,000 acres restored with biodiverse planting systems
- 20+ tree species introduced, balancing ecological restoration with farmer needs
- Ongoing farmer-led workshops to sustain knowledge transfer
Join in to Grow a Resilient Future
The climate crisis is global, but solutions are rooted in communities like COMSA. With your support, we can scale farmer-led agroforestry to ensure that small-scale farmers are not just surviving but thriving in an ever changing climate.
Together, we can plant the seeds of a resilient, sustainable future. You can directly support the project through your contribution here or through the purchase of Comsa Coffees.
