In Palmira are some of the most valuable and emblematic agroecosystems of Colombia: coffee farms. However, in recent decades the production systems for this grain have experienced a worrying reduction that requires urgent attention, which could be due to the expansion of monocultures such as sugar cane, along with the lack of support and guarantees for coffee growers.
The objective of the research developed from the Doctorate in Agroecology at the National University of Colombia (UNAL) Palmira Campus has been to examine how the technical, productive, social and environmental characteristics of the coffee agroecosystems in this area can influence the conservation of biodiversity. , focused particularly on native bees.
In the context of coffee, although the plants are pollinated autonomously, “the presence of these insects can increase production by up to 15%,” which highlights their economic and ecological importance, as reported by researcher Monica Andrea Cifuentes Ibarra, who It stands out that in Colombia there are more than a thousand species of bees.
In the methodology, the doctoral student in Agroecology proposed a comprehensive approach to address the complexity of coffee agroecosystems. He used the metaphor of a cube with three visible faces to represent the different aspects analyzed: the social part, the ecosystem part and the diversity of bees as bioindicators.
From a social point of view, he conducted interviews with 30 local coffee farmers to explore topics such as land use, capacity for action, their environmental awareness and the ethical values with which they guide their agricultural practices. This participatory approach allowed him to establish a deep connection with the local community, facilitating an open dialogue about the challenges and opportunities they face.
Regarding the ecosystem aspect, he divided it into three main areas: biological, environmental and landscape. In the biological component, it evaluated the diversity of tree plants that grow in coffee agroecosystems, giving it a deeper knowledge of the plant biodiversity that grows there. While the environmental component focused on monitoring variables such as soil quality and temperature, essential to classify and analyze data and understand ecological conditions.
The landscape analysis was carried out using drones with which aerial photographs of the farms were taken, allowing the researcher to analyze the influence of forest patches, nearby water sources and the agricultural matrix on the surrounding landscape. “For many coffee growers, seeing their farm from an aerial perspective was a revealing experience that allowed them to appreciate the complexity and beauty of their environment from a new perspective,” says the researcher.
Bees live in Valle del Cauca coffee plantations
The diversity of bees was evaluated through sampling carried out between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, the result was the collection of 513 specimens of native bees, representing 96 different species that were analyzed in collaboration with the Bee Laboratory from the UNAL Headquarters Bogotá (LABUN), where its functional traits were identified and studied. This collaboration was key to understanding the taxonomic diversity and the ecological role they play in coffee agroecosystems.
The promising findings reveal a remarkable diversity of bees in the coffee agroecosystems of Palmira, including species ranging from the tribes of the Meliponini, known as stingless bees; the Euglossinione of the most abundant in the study; even the family of Halictidae and the Colletidae.
Farmers have shown great interest in knowing the species of bees that inhabit their coffee plantations. According to researcher Cifuentes, “many were unaware of the symbiotic relationship that exists between bees and coffee production, but now they express a growing desire to learn more about the biodiversity of their environment and how they can contribute to its conservation.”
Through training workshops, the exchange of activities, the introduction of beehives as an incentive to change environmental thinking and as an alternative economy that promotes the intergenerational legacy in the field, the thesis student hopes that coffee growers continue adopting more sustainable practices and recognizing the biodiversity of bees.