Sustainable certifications have been promoted as a means of recognizing environmental benefits and generating economic benefits from sustainable coffee production. A case study is presented from one region of Nicaragua where these benefits were evaluated and two producer organizations were supported to improve their access to sustainable certification. Biodiversity and carbon stocks were found to be more associated with smallholder vs. large-scale farms than with certification per se, but reduced use of agrochemicals and good management of water sources was strongly associated with certification. Economic performance of farmers with different certifications varied, C.A.F.E. Practice and Rainforest Alliance certified farmers had higher incomes but also higher levels of investment than conventional farmers, while organic farmers had a similar level of income to conventional producers but achieved this with a lower level of investment. Producer organizations require substantial external financial and technical support to access these certifications, which may place limitations on the spread of the benefits from sustainable certification to a majority of producers.

ANACAFE (2008) Certificaciones y Sellos, Guía de Conceptos Básicos, ANACAFE, Guatemala.

Blackman, A. and Rivera, J. (2010) The Evidence Base for Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts of ‘Sustainable’ Certifications, Discussion Paper 10-17, Resources for the Future, Washington, DC.

Castro, F., Montes, E. and Raine, M. (2004) Centroamérica La Crisis Cafetalera: Efectos y Estrategias para Hacerle Frente, Sustainable Development Working Paper No 23, World Bank, Washington, DC.

Cuadra-Mayorga, L.C. and Alvarado-Narváez, U.P. (2009) Evaluación de Servicios Ambientales de Café Agroforestal en Fincas en el Macizo de Peñas Blancas, Matagalpa, Ing Rec Nat thesis, UNA, Nicaragua.

Giovannucci, D. and Potts, J. (2008) Seeking Sustainability COSA Preliminary Analysis of Sustainability Initiatives in the Coffee Sector, IISD, Winnipeg, Canada.

Giovannucci, D., Liu, P. and Byers, A. (2008) ‘Adding value: Certified coffee trade in North America’, in P. Liu (ed.), Value-Adding Standards in the North American Food Market: Trade Opportunities in Certified Products for Developing Countries, FAO, Rome.

Haggar, J. and Noponen, M. (2012) ‘Carbon neutrality across the coffee value chain: a sustainable opportunity or wishful thinking?’ Coffee and Cocoa International March 2012 pp. 33-37.

Idol, T., Haggar, J. and Cox, L. (2011) ‘Ecosystem services from smallholder forestry and agroforestry’, in B. Campbell and S. Lopez (eds), Issues in Agroecology: Present Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Dordrecht.

MAGFOR (2002) Elaboración del mapa de cultivo de café en Nicaragua, Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Forestal, Managua, Nicaragua. Medina, B.Y., Muñoz, C.Y., Haggar, J.P. and Aguilar, R.M. (2006) Metodología para la evaluación de servicios ambientales, ANACAFE, Guatemala.

Millard, E. (2006) ‘Increasing profitability for farmers supplying to the international coffee market by improving supply chain management, including traceability’, USAID Regional Consultation on Linking Farmers to Markets: Lessons Learned and Successful Practices, Cairo, January 2006 [website] <http://www.globalfoodchainpartnerships.org/cairo/papers/EdwardMillardCoffee.pdf≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.globalfoodchainpartnerships.org/cairo/papers/EdwardMillardCoffee.pdf

Perfecto, I., Rice, R., Greenberg, R. and van der Moort, M. (1996) ‘Shade coffee: A disappearing refuge for biodiversity’, Bioscience 46: 598-608. Perfecto, I., Vandermeer, J., Mas, A. and Soto Pinto, L. (2005) ‘Biodiversity, yield, and shade coffee certification’, Ecological Economics 54: 435-446 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.10.009≯.

Philpott, S. and Dietsch T. (2003) ‘Coffee and conservation: A global context and the value of farmer involvement’, Conservation Biology 17: 1844-1846 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2003.00150.x≯.

Quispe-Guanca, J.L. (2007) Caracterización del impacto ambiental y productiva de las diferentes normas de certificación de café en Costa Rica, MSc thesis, CATIE, Costa Rica.

Schibli, C. (2001) ‘Percepciones de familias sobre el uso y manejo de sistemas agroforestales con café en el norte de Nicaragua’, Agroforestaría en las Américas 8: 8-14.

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) (no date) The SMBC Bird-Friendly Criteria at a Glance, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Washington, DC. Valkila, J. (2009) ‘Fair trade organic coffee production in Nicaragua: Sustainable development or poverty trap?’ Ecological Economics 68: 3018-3025 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.07.002≯.

Van der Vossen, H. (2005) ‘A critical analysis of the agronomic and economic sustainability of organic coffee production’, Experimental Agriculture 41: 449-473 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0014479705002863≯.

ANACAFE (2008) Certificaciones y Sellos, Guía de Conceptos Básicos, ANACAFE, Guatemala.

Blackman, A. and Rivera, J. (2010) The Evidence Base for Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts of ‘Sustainable’ Certifications, Discussion Paper 10-17, Resources for the Future, Washington, DC.

Castro, F., Montes, E. and Raine, M. (2004) Centroamérica La Crisis Cafetalera: Efectos y Estrategias para Hacerle Frente, Sustainable Development Working Paper No 23, World Bank, Washington, DC.

Cuadra-Mayorga, L.C. and Alvarado-Narváez, U.P. (2009) Evaluación de Servicios Ambientales de Café Agroforestal en Fincas en el Macizo de Peñas Blancas, Matagalpa, Ing Rec Nat thesis, UNA, Nicaragua.

Giovannucci, D. and Potts, J. (2008) Seeking Sustainability COSA Preliminary Analysis of Sustainability Initiatives in the Coffee Sector, IISD, Winnipeg, Canada.

Giovannucci, D., Liu, P. and Byers, A. (2008) ‘Adding value: Certified coffee trade in North America’, in P. Liu (ed.), Value-Adding Standards in the North American Food Market: Trade Opportunities in Certified Products for Developing Countries, FAO, Rome.

Haggar, J. and Noponen, M. (2012) ‘Carbon neutrality across the coffee value chain: a sustainable opportunity or wishful thinking?’ Coffee and Cocoa International March 2012 pp. 33-37.

Idol, T., Haggar, J. and Cox, L. (2011) ‘Ecosystem services from smallholder forestry and agroforestry’, in B. Campbell and S. Lopez (eds), Issues in Agroecology: Present Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Dordrecht.

MAGFOR (2002) Elaboración del mapa de cultivo de café en Nicaragua, Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Forestal, Managua, Nicaragua. Medina, B.Y., Muñoz, C.Y., Haggar, J.P. and Aguilar, R.M. (2006) Metodología para la evaluación de servicios ambientales, ANACAFE, Guatemala.

Millard, E. (2006) ‘Increasing profitability for farmers supplying to the international coffee market by improving supply chain management, including traceability’, USAID Regional Consultation on Linking Farmers to Markets: Lessons Learned and Successful Practices, Cairo, January 2006 [website] <http://www.globalfoodchainpartnerships.org/cairo/papers/EdwardMillardCoffee.pdf≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.globalfoodchainpartnerships.org/cairo/papers/EdwardMillardCoffee.pdf

Perfecto, I., Rice, R., Greenberg, R. and van der Moort, M. (1996) ‘Shade coffee: A disappearing refuge for biodiversity’, Bioscience 46: 598-608. Perfecto, I., Vandermeer, J., Mas, A. and Soto Pinto, L. (2005) ‘Biodiversity, yield, and shade coffee certification’, Ecological Economics 54: 435-446 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.10.009≯.

Philpott, S. and Dietsch T. (2003) ‘Coffee and conservation: A global context and the value of farmer involvement’, Conservation Biology 17: 1844-1846 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2003.00150.x≯.

Quispe-Guanca, J.L. (2007) Caracterización del impacto ambiental y productiva de las diferentes normas de certificación de café en Costa Rica, MSc thesis, CATIE, Costa Rica.

Schibli, C. (2001) ‘Percepciones de familias sobre el uso y manejo de sistemas agroforestales con café en el norte de Nicaragua’, Agroforestaría en las Américas 8: 8-14.

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) (no date) The SMBC Bird-Friendly Criteria at a Glance, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Washington, DC. Valkila, J. (2009) ‘Fair trade organic coffee production in Nicaragua: Sustainable development or poverty trap?’ Ecological Economics 68: 3018-3025 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.07.002≯.

Van der Vossen, H. (2005) ‘A critical analysis of the agronomic and economic sustainability of organic coffee production’, Experimental Agriculture 41: 449-473 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0014479705002863≯.

ANACAFE (2008) Certificaciones y Sellos, Guía de Conceptos Básicos, ANACAFE, Guatemala.

Blackman, A. and Rivera, J. (2010) The Evidence Base for Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts of ‘Sustainable’ Certifications, Discussion Paper 10-17, Resources for the Future, Washington, DC.

Castro, F., Montes, E. and Raine, M. (2004) Centroamérica La Crisis Cafetalera: Efectos y Estrategias para Hacerle Frente, Sustainable Development Working Paper No 23, World Bank, Washington, DC.

Cuadra-Mayorga, L.C. and Alvarado-Narváez, U.P. (2009) Evaluación de Servicios Ambientales de Café Agroforestal en Fincas en el Macizo de Peñas Blancas, Matagalpa, Ing Rec Nat thesis, UNA, Nicaragua.

Giovannucci, D. and Potts, J. (2008) Seeking Sustainability COSA Preliminary Analysis of Sustainability Initiatives in the Coffee Sector, IISD, Winnipeg, Canada.

Giovannucci, D., Liu, P. and Byers, A. (2008) ‘Adding value: Certified coffee trade in North America’, in P. Liu (ed.), Value-Adding Standards in the North American Food Market: Trade Opportunities in Certified Products for Developing Countries, FAO, Rome.

Haggar, J. and Noponen, M. (2012) ‘Carbon neutrality across the coffee value chain: a sustainable opportunity or wishful thinking?’ Coffee and Cocoa International March 2012 pp. 33-37.

Idol, T., Haggar, J. and Cox, L. (2011) ‘Ecosystem services from smallholder forestry and agroforestry’, in B. Campbell and S. Lopez (eds), Issues in Agroecology: Present Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Dordrecht.

MAGFOR (2002) Elaboración del mapa de cultivo de café en Nicaragua, Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Forestal, Managua, Nicaragua. Medina, B.Y., Muñoz, C.Y., Haggar, J.P. and Aguilar, R.M. (2006) Metodología para la evaluación de servicios ambientales, ANACAFE, Guatemala.

Millard, E. (2006) ‘Increasing profitability for farmers supplying to the international coffee market by improving supply chain management, including traceability’, USAID Regional Consultation on Linking Farmers to Markets: Lessons Learned and Successful Practices, Cairo, January 2006 [website] <http://www.globalfoodchainpartnerships.org/cairo/papers/EdwardMillardCoffee.pdf≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.globalfoodchainpartnerships.org/cairo/papers/EdwardMillardCoffee.pdf

Perfecto, I., Rice, R., Greenberg, R. and van der Moort, M. (1996) ‘Shade coffee: A disappearing refuge for biodiversity’, Bioscience 46: 598-608. Perfecto, I., Vandermeer, J., Mas, A. and Soto Pinto, L. (2005) ‘Biodiversity, yield, and shade coffee certification’, Ecological Economics 54: 435-446 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.10.009≯.

Philpott, S. and Dietsch T. (2003) ‘Coffee and conservation: A global context and the value of farmer involvement’, Conservation Biology 17: 1844-1846 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2003.00150.x≯.

Quispe-Guanca, J.L. (2007) Caracterización del impacto ambiental y productiva de las diferentes normas de certificación de café en Costa Rica, MSc thesis, CATIE, Costa Rica.

Schibli, C. (2001) ‘Percepciones de familias sobre el uso y manejo de sistemas agroforestales con café en el norte de Nicaragua’, Agroforestaría en las Américas 8: 8-14.

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) (no date) The SMBC Bird-Friendly Criteria at a Glance, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Washington, DC. Valkila, J. (2009) ‘Fair trade organic coffee production in Nicaragua: Sustainable development or poverty trap?’ Ecological Economics 68: 3018-3025 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.07.002≯.

Van der Vossen, H. (2005) ‘A critical analysis of the agronomic and economic sustainability of organic coffee production’, Experimental Agriculture 41: 449-473 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0014479705002863≯.

ANACAFE (2008) Certificaciones y Sellos, Guía de Conceptos Básicos, ANACAFE, Guatemala.

Blackman, A. and Rivera, J. (2010) The Evidence Base for Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts of ‘Sustainable’ Certifications, Discussion Paper 10-17, Resources for the Future, Washington, DC.

Castro, F., Montes, E. and Raine, M. (2004) Centroamérica La Crisis Cafetalera: Efectos y Estrategias para Hacerle Frente, Sustainable Development Working Paper No 23, World Bank, Washington, DC.

Cuadra-Mayorga, L.C. and Alvarado-Narváez, U.P. (2009) Evaluación de Servicios Ambientales de Café Agroforestal en Fincas en el Macizo de Peñas Blancas, Matagalpa, Ing Rec Nat thesis, UNA, Nicaragua.

Giovannucci, D. and Potts, J. (2008) Seeking Sustainability COSA Preliminary Analysis of Sustainability Initiatives in the Coffee Sector, IISD, Winnipeg, Canada.

Giovannucci, D., Liu, P. and Byers, A. (2008) ‘Adding value: Certified coffee trade in North America’, in P. Liu (ed.), Value-Adding Standards in the North American Food Market: Trade Opportunities in Certified Products for Developing Countries, FAO, Rome.

Haggar, J. and Noponen, M. (2012) ‘Carbon neutrality across the coffee value chain: a sustainable opportunity or wishful thinking?’ Coffee and Cocoa International March 2012 pp. 33-37.

Idol, T., Haggar, J. and Cox, L. (2011) ‘Ecosystem services from smallholder forestry and agroforestry’, in B. Campbell and S. Lopez (eds), Issues in Agroecology: Present Status and Future Prospects. Springer, Dordrecht.

MAGFOR (2002) Elaboración del mapa de cultivo de café en Nicaragua, Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Forestal, Managua, Nicaragua. Medina, B.Y., Muñoz, C.Y., Haggar, J.P. and Aguilar, R.M. (2006) Metodología para la evaluación de servicios ambientales, ANACAFE, Guatemala.

Millard, E. (2006) ‘Increasing profitability for farmers supplying to the international coffee market by improving supply chain management, including traceability’, USAID Regional Consultation on Linking Farmers to Markets: Lessons Learned and Successful Practices, Cairo, January 2006 [website] <http://www.globalfoodchainpartnerships.org/cairo/papers/EdwardMillardCoffee.pdf≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.globalfoodchainpartnerships.org/cairo/papers/EdwardMillardCoffee.pdf

Perfecto, I., Rice, R., Greenberg, R. and van der Moort, M. (1996) ‘Shade coffee: A disappearing refuge for biodiversity’, Bioscience 46: 598-608. Perfecto, I., Vandermeer, J., Mas, A. and Soto Pinto, L. (2005) ‘Biodiversity, yield, and shade coffee certification’, Ecological Economics 54: 435-446 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.10.009≯.

Philpott, S. and Dietsch T. (2003) ‘Coffee and conservation: A global context and the value of farmer involvement’, Conservation Biology 17: 1844-1846 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2003.00150.x≯.

Quispe-Guanca, J.L. (2007) Caracterización del impacto ambiental y productiva de las diferentes normas de certificación de café en Costa Rica, MSc thesis, CATIE, Costa Rica.

Schibli, C. (2001) ‘Percepciones de familias sobre el uso y manejo de sistemas agroforestales con café en el norte de Nicaragua’, Agroforestaría en las Américas 8: 8-14.

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) (no date) The SMBC Bird-Friendly Criteria at a Glance, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Washington, DC. Valkila, J. (2009) ‘Fair trade organic coffee production in Nicaragua: Sustainable development or poverty trap?’ Ecological Economics 68: 3018-3025 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.07.002≯.

Van der Vossen, H. (2005) ‘A critical analysis of the agronomic and economic sustainability of organic coffee production’, Experimental Agriculture 41: 449-473 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0014479705002863≯.