About CoffeeLand

CoffeeLand — formally titled Optimizing Carbon, Soil Health and Yield in Coffee-Forest Systems as a Climate-Smart Land Management in Ethiopia — is a collaborative research project funded by the Research Council of Norway (project number 358392, KSP25), running from January 2026 to December 2029.

The project is led by NIBIO (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research) in partnership with Ethiopian and Norwegian research institutions and civil society organizations.

Background

Coffee is central to Ethiopia’s culture, economy, and the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers. The country’s coffee-forest systems produce world-famous Arabica coffee while storing carbon, enhancing soil fertility, and supporting rich biodiversity. Yet these systems face growing threats from deforestation, land degradation, and climate change, which reduce yields and endanger the genetic diversity of wild Arabica coffee.

Objectives

  • O1 — Develop AI-based methodologies and models to accurately map the extent and structure of coffee-forest systems
  • O2 — Develop a novel mapping method for carbon stock monitoring in Coffee-Forest Landscapes
  • O3 — Assess the role of shade tree diversity and density in enhancing soil health, carbon sequestration, and coffee yield
  • O4 — Explore opportunities and barriers for carbon credits and carbon market initiatives

Approach

Using multi-sensor remote sensing data (Sentinel, GEDI) combined with AI/ML analytics, CoffeeLand will map coffee-forest extent, structure, and carbon stocks, evaluate how shade tree diversity and density affect soil health and yield, and identify policy and socio-economic pathways to integrate coffee-forest systems into carbon markets and REDD+ initiatives.

Expected Outcomes

The project will deliver scalable, evidence-based approaches for climate-smart land management — sustaining coffee productivity, improving soil health, strengthening resilience to climate change, and opening new income opportunities through carbon markets for smallholder farmers.

Project period: 2026–2029

Project manager: Belachew Gizachew Zeleke, NIBIO (belachew.gizachew@nibio.no)