Pathways Communication Grants Projects  

Tropical coffee landscapes constitute rich agroecological matrices of great ecological and cultural value. However, the cumulative effects of socio-environmental crises have transformed these landscapes, affecting the livelihoods of producers and their management practices. Previous research showed that forest cover of coffee landscapes of central Veracruz, Mexico, decreased after the coffee-leaf rust outbreak and was associated with the intensification of management practices and the transition to commercial crops. Additionally, actors involved in landscape transformation were diverse and influenced different stages of the coffee value-chain (i.e., production and commercialization processes). However, producers were differentially affected depending on which association strategy they followed. The communication of these results to relevant actors involved in the coffee sector (producers, government, nonprofits) is crucial to draw attention to the strategies that can sustain change in the region and envision new scenarios for sustainability. We will design and implement a participatory serious board game to represent the complex interactions affecting coffee production, the livelihood of producers, and the ecological integrity of the agroecological matrix. The game, considered a learning tool, will have a dual purpose: inform participants on these findings; and encourage a discussion and reflection on new pathways for achieving sustainable landscapes and local wellbeing.  

Scientific Leader: Martha Bonilla Moheno