FAF Future Farmers – Regeneration in Practice

Better coffee is not only about what ends up in your cup. It’s also about how it’s grown, how the soil is cared for, and how farming can help create a healthier planet. That’s why we’re proud of our collaboration with FAF Coffees in Brazil, one of our long-standing partners.

Today, FAF is much more than just a farm. They have built a network of like-minded producers and launched projects that move coffee farming forward. One of the most ambitious is Future Farmers – a program that helps producers step by step transition into regenerative agriculture.

What the program does

Future Farmers begins with detailed soil checks – looking at how compacted the soil is, how healthy the roots are, the balance of nutrients, and the amount of life in the soil. Based on these results, a plan is created together with each producer. The goal is simple but ambitious: to restore soil health, increase biodiversity, and build farming systems that give back more than they take.

This is not just theory. Producers receive regular technical visits, take part in field studies, and try out methods such as planting cover crops, adding fruit and shade trees, and using natural inputs instead of chemicals. Every farm gets its own roadmap, adapted to its unique conditions and challenges.

We’re not the ones doing the practical work. But through our support, we can stand behind the producers and the FAF Coffees team as they test, adjust, and share knowledge – and we get to share their progress with you.

Producers in transition

	Rosi & Leandro – Ibitiúra de Minas, MG Good soil structure and balanced nutrients – but very little life in the soil. Roots show signs of decay despite new growth. Next steps: increase ground cover, plant fruit trees, and switch to natural inputs. Analysis complete, work underway.
	Tiago Manzoli – Ibitiúra de Minas, MG Producer and professor managing three plots alone. Biggest challenge: limited time and labor. Soils are lightly to moderately compacted, with fungal root disease and nutrient imbalances. Next steps: labor-efficient regenerative practices and better planning.
	João Hamilton – Caconde, SP Five plots in transition. Challenges: root rot, pest damage, and moderate to high soil compaction (especially in older fields). Soils are rich but unbalanced. Next steps: biological root protection and targeted nutrient balancing.
	Ivan & Rose dos Santos – Caconde, SP Working across three locations. Some fields show pest damage and root decay, others are more resilient. Soils are generally well structured but need more organic matter. Next steps: strengthen root health and adjust nutrient supply.
	Fernanda Moraes – Caconde, SP Very compacted soils, unhealthy roots, little organic matter. Lacking calcium, magnesium, and sulfur; too much iron, manganese, and copper. Next steps: build organic matter and restore microbial life.
	Geraldo Luis da Silva – Caconde, SP Six plots analyzed. Soil is often too compact, limiting root growth. Some plots are more balanced than others. Next steps: reduce compaction with cover crops, improve soil structure, and boost organic cycles with compost and natural inputs.
	Roberta Goulart – Muzambinho, MG Preparing land for replanting. Critically compacted soils, poor root health, low organic matter, and toxic aluminum levels. Next steps: recover soils with cover crops and organic inputs before planting coffee again.

The bigger picture

Two main challenges keep coming up: compacted soils and unhealthy roots. Nutrients might be there, but without organic matter and life in the soil, they can’t be fully used by the plants.

Future Farmers gives producers the tools to change that. Through soil checks, follow-ups, and knowledge sharing, they are finding new ways forward – one cover crop, one compost pile, and one root system at a time.

Our vision

At Johan & Nyström, this connects directly to our vision: to make the coffee world tastier and better. For us, great coffee is never just about flavor. It’s about contributing to a better world – for people and for the planet. Supporting programs like Future Farmers is one way for us to stand with producers as they move towards more sustainable and regenerative farming.

Together with our partners, we make sure that every step – from the nursery to the brewer – is handled responsibly and transparently. The result is coffee that not only tastes better but is also grown and delivered in a way that makes life better for everyone along the chain.