Presentation short abstract

The coffee industry in Puerto Rico, is clouded by complementary, contradicting, and divergent narratives tied up in a history of colonization, globalization, and local movements. This study examines the intersections of coffee trade politics, local agrarian geographies, and social organizations.

Presentation long abstract

The coffee industry in Borikén, or Puerto Rico, is clouded by complementary, contradicting, and divergent narratives tied up in a history of colonization, globalization, and local identitarian movements. In the past three decades, transnational corporations have bought out heritage Puerto Rican coffee brands while local bean production has fallen over 90% due to a legacy of industrialization, climate change and a debt-crippled economy. As a result, large-scale roasters are increasingly more reliant on cheap, imported beans which they blend with local coffee and market as “developed in Puerto Rico.” Smallholders struggle to pay U.S. prices for labor and inputs, and either sell their beans green or produce less competitive, expensive "specialty" batches. Meanwhile, NGOs offering fiscal and technical support have emerged from both the local agroecology movement and foreign corporations. This study examines the intersections of global coffee trade politics, local agrarian geographies, and social organizations involved in coffee production. Through archival research, ethno-photography, and participatory interviews, we worked with small, medium, and large-scale farmers; local and transnational roasters; NGOs; agronomists; and local government employees. The preliminary analysis reveals a complex matrix of influences (1) Oligopolies dominate the industry with intensive agriculture, mass imports, and commercial processing. 2) NGOs supporting smallholders are funded by the same companies driving intensive production. (3) Despite receiving NGO assistance, small producers absorb externalities of transitioning away from an agroindustrial system. 4) Through NGOs, large companies co-opt agroecology as a “business solution to poverty” that serves public-private partnerships but leaves smallholders out.