Measuring the level of deforestation of coffee farms

According to Ilya Byzov, Quantitative Trader at Sucafina, it is difficult to determine the extent of deforestation in coffee production. According to Sucafina’s research results, deforestation occurs frequently in coffee-growing countries. Especially the countries in the Coffee Belt are considered to have the most deforestation. But this information cannot be attributed to coffee production. Since several in-depth studies have shown that the root cause of deforestation is population growth, increased food demand requires expansion.

However, it cannot be denied that coffee production negatively impacts forests. Most farms have to cut down trees to make room for coffee trees. In addition, monoculture coffee farming causes many consequences because it needs to clear a large forest area. The environment in these coffee-intensive farms can cause ecosystem imbalances, land degradation and environmental pollution that affect the sustainability of the industry as a whole.

Obviously, coffee may not be the only cause, but it also impacts deforestation. For example, a new bill proposed by the European Union (EU) would require proof that coffee and other imports do not cause deforestation. But in reality, there is very little data on where and when deforestation occurs, so it is difficult to predict accurately. This leads to loss of control and more severe deforestation. Therefore, monitoring and measuring deforestation is essential to addressing the root causes of deforestation and creating sustainable supply chains.

Because deforestation often occurs at a slow pace and at different intervals from coffee farms, it is difficult to accurately measure the extent of deforestation in the field. To tackle this problem, Sucafina and other organizations have collaborated on testing satellite technology that can track deforestation levels. In addition, satellite technology companies such as the Global Risk Assessment Service and Commercial Space (GRAS) have used polygon maps combined with satellite images to conduct measurements. The map allows the mapping of irregularly shaped plots of land. Using that data against satellite imagery, experts can determine changes in tree cover over time.

In addition, to aid in the measurement process, the teams set up GPS coordinates for farms and plots. This data is then uploaded to create a geographic map system, overlaid with satellite imagery to monitor forest cover. Once data has been collected over several years, it is much easier to assess how forest cover has changed over time allowing deforestation to be more easily tracked.

“Satellite technology has a huge advantage in assessing large areas, even hard-to-reach areas on the ground,” said Ana Cabezas, GIS & Sustainability Specialist at GRAS. These systems are capable of monitoring coffee production areas and detecting changes in land use. The use of current and historical satellite images to identify changes in land use.

What’s more, companies like GRAS and Trade in Space are also using artificial intelligence to create algorithms that can detect deforestation over large tracts of land without any direct human knowledge. People. This low-impact model means that relatively small companies can monitor deforestation on a much broader scale. By partnering with satellite tracking companies, the data obtained can give us a complete view of deforestation from space.

The world of sustainable coffee is a long journey. If you love and want to accompany on this meaningful flavor journey, visit XLIII Coffee!

Source: perfectdailygrind

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