Columbia: Coffee is King
The Social, Cultural, and Political Implications of the Coffee Economy
Aurelia Moore
Columbia College
September 26, 2015
Introduction
The cultivation and exportation of what is regarded as the finest coffee in the world, transformed the beautiful country of Colombia. At present, coffee cultivation is one of rural Columbia’s largest sources of employment (Coffee in Columbia, 2013). From a social standpoint, the coffee industry helps to foster positive social change through the creation of healthy economies, communities, and resources for those working in the industry, including health care and education. Culturally speaking, the art of coffee cultivation has a lengthy history in Columbia and is a way of life in much of the rural, mountainous country. Despite the earthquakes and other natural disasters which have impacted the region, the coffee growing community is typically inclined to band to together to rebuild if and when needed, in order to return as quickly as possible to their known way of life. Politically speaking, coffee is a huge economic driver for the country.
Social Implications Beyond the natural emphasis on coffee generated profits, Columbia’s coffee export industry has long endeavored to create positive social change and impact. In existence since 1927, the Columbian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) is charged with representing and defending the coffee grower’s interests and to promote social agendas desired by the farmer collective. Over the years, this has included, training and development, industry research, expansion of community and human development initiatives, with an overall emphasis on ensuring that the industry remains sustainable for those involved (Coffee in Columbia, 2013). As always, FNC’s goal has been to maintain Columbia’s position as a preferred coffee exporter so that prices can remain as stable as possible, and the quality of life for grower families can remain constant, if not on an upswing. If nothing else, as learned a few decades ago at the height of the drug trade, the objective is to keep coffee as the sustainable and preferred crop grown and exported from the country. This is reinforced through FNC’s support for grower benefits. These include educational initiatives aimed at creating interest in coffee production and farming amongst the next generation, as well as worker and farmer training programs focusing on the competitive and business-related issues needed to take the businesses to the next level and to bolster producer bottom lines. Infrastructure investments come in the form of roads and physical plants, and facilities for production and distribution, which can be especially challenging in the country’s naturally mountainous surroundings. The road improvements do much to aid in the transportation of people and coffee throughout the country, and to provide an essential connection between rural families and the rest of the country. Other advances have been seen in the areas of housing and utilities, making the rural life, a little less harsh. Moreover, there are the health care benefits ensured by the FNC, in conjunction with the government, providing subsidized health care where there once was little to none. Work is also being done to improve the impact of the industry on the environment and to ensure that the industry is sustainable in the longer term, through education and conservation efforts.
Cultural Implications Because coffee is one of the primary sources of employment in largely rural Columbia, the cultivation of this crop is a way of life for many. Earthquakes are also a way of life in the mountainous country, much of it composed of prime coffee growing lands. In the past, devastating earthquakes have hit the region causing farmers in the area to lose most everything (Coffee Market and Colombia, n.d). In the aftermath of such natural disasters, the country is forced to pull together to create the needed emergency shelters, and to provide medical aid, food and resources to rebuild everything, including the facilities in which coffee is produced and the roads by which it travels. With coffee as the primary, if not sole income source, people are not unaccustomed to banding together to get the industry back on track after such setbacks.
Political Implications Not surprisingly, there is much power associated with an industry as strong as the coffee export business in Columbia. Historically strong, the industry has had its ups and downs, but continues to dominate as one of the leaders in the export market. Over time, as in most agrarian societies, there have been both conflicts and unsteady alliances between the grower collective, the processers, the landowners, and the government. The final essay in the collection returns to the question of the power of large growers. The balance of power is delicate at times and was subject to much negotiation as the industry boomed from the 1950’s forward (Coffee in Columbia, 2013). The FNC has been in place to support programs such as transparent minimum pricing to keep the grower standard of living as stable as possible. Though not an issue any longer, the drug trade heyday in the late 1980s and early 1990s certainly provided the agriculturally inclined with tenuous production alternatives. Coffee is, was, and continues to be a far more peaceful and productive crop. FNC support for social programs and economic programs continues to make the coffee industry viable and competitive. With this success comes greater financial stability for those engaged in the business, and in turn, a voice at the political table.

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