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The effects of chemicals used on coffee crops are felt by coffee farmers, and their families, and the environment, in a myriad of disturbing ways. But the chemicals likely don't harm coffee drinkers, having been burned off the coffee during the roasting process.

The chemicals used on coffee crops are found in fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. Farmers, and their families, are often sprayed with these chemicals while working the fields. The chemicals run off into streams and rivers. They accumulate in the soil. They find their way into the food chain.

The reason so many chemicals are needed to produce the coffee is that, in order to increase yields, coffee is being grown in direct sunlight, often on deforested rain-forest land. Coffee crops were traditionally grown in shade. But new commercial strains have been developed which can tolerate the sun. Unfortunately, these new high-yielding coffee strains have high requirements for fertilizer and pesticides.

So, while the chemicals used on coffee crops may not harm the coffee drinker, they are very harmful to coffee farmers, and their families, and to the environment. You may not wish to support this means of coffee production. You can choose Fair Trade Certified coffee, much of which is organic, or simply organic coffee; these have been grown without the use of chemicals, and are a responsible consumer choice.

Learn more about this author, David Riel.
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