Sustainability at Altas Terras Coffee

Rooted in responsibility

Altas Terras Coffee works with small and medium producers in the Mantiqueira region who share a simple, non‑negotiable commitment: grow exceptional coffee while protecting the land that makes it possible. Sustainability here is not a marketing claim—it is a daily practice shaped by generations of stewardship, careful resource use, and respect for the environment. Our farmers understand that healthy soil, clean water, and preserved forests are the foundation of long‑term quality. Every decision in the field reflects this responsibility.

Minimal and responsible use of pesticides

Our partner producers use the absolute minimum amount of pesticides necessary, and only when agronomically justified. The focus is always on prevention, balance, and long‑term soil health, not on routine chemical use. In practice, this means:

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM): monitoring pest pressure and intervening only when thresholds are reached.
• Targeted applications: when treatment is necessary, it is localized and carefully dosed, avoiding blanket spraying.
• Preventive agronomy: pruning, shade management, soil nutrition, and plant vigor are prioritized to reduce pest and disease pressure naturally.

The goal is simple: protect the crop while preserving biodiversity, soil life, and the health of workers, communities, and ecosystems.

Zero deforestation—by principle and by practice

Altas Terras Coffee maintains a strict zero‑deforestation policy. Our producers do not clear native forest for coffee production, expansion, or infrastructure. On the ground, this means:

• Maintaining legal reserves and permanent preservation areas.
• Protecting riparian zones and water sources.
• Avoiding conversion of native vegetation into coffee fields.

Many farms go beyond legal requirements, preserving forest fragments as part of their identity and resilience. Forest is seen not as “unused land,” but as a living asset that protects water, stabilizes the climate, and supports long‑term productivity.

A landscape in recovery

The Mantiqueira region, historically impacted by deforestation and land‑use change, is now the focus of significant restoration and reforestation efforts. Public programs, municipal initiatives, NGOs, and private actors are working together to restore native Atlantic Forest, protect water sources, and rebuild ecological corridors. While specific figures vary by source and project, the overall trend is clear:

• Native forest cover is slowly increasing in key areas.
• Restoration projects are reconnecting forest fragments and riparian zones.
• Coffee‑growing landscapes are progressively integrating more trees, shade, and conservation areas.

Our partner producers operate within this recovering landscape and, in many cases, actively contribute to it by maintaining or expanding forested areas on their properties.

Full commitment to EUDR compliance

Altas Terras Coffee is fully committed to complying with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This commitment is both environmental and practical: we want our buyers to have full confidence in the origin and land‑use history of every lot. Our preparation includes:

• Geolocation of coffee plots and clear mapping of farm boundaries.
• Documentation of land‑use history to demonstrate that no deforestation occurred after the EUDR cutoff date.
• Traceability from farm to export lot, ensuring each shipment can be linked back to specific producers and areas.
• Farmer onboarding and training, so producers understand the regulation and feel supported—not burdened—by it.

For us, EUDR is not just a compliance requirement; it is an opportunity to formalize and document practices that our producers already live by.

Sustainability as a shared journey

We believe sustainability is built through partnership. Altas Terras supports producers with:

• Technical guidance and clear agronomic recommendations.
• Transparent communication about market expectations and regulatory changes.
• Tools for documentation, traceability, and geolocation.
• A commitment to fair, transparent relationships that reward responsible farming.

When farmers are respected and supported, sustainability becomes a natural outcome—not an imposed label.

A future worth growing

Our commitment is simple: Exceptional coffee, produced responsibly, with full respect for the land and the people who care for it. Sustainability at Altas Terras is not a separate program. It is the way our farmers farm, the way we work with them, and the way we believe coffee should be produced.