Brewing Peace: Former Combatants Transform Colombia’s Coffee Industry

In the quiet hills of Huila, the aroma of coffee signals more than just the start of a new day. Here, coffee farms are becoming symbols of peace, resilience, and reconciliation in a region scarred by decades of conflict.

At the heart of this transformation is FEMNCAF?, a federation of coffee producers led by former combatants who adhered to the 2016 Peace Agreement. For these men and women, who live in zones chosen by peace signatories for reincorporation of former combatants to civilian life, coffee is not just a livelihood; it is a pathway to healing and rebuilding as part of their reintegration process.

“We are not just growing coffee,” says Juan Camilo Lara, the coordinator of FEMNCAF?’s environmental sustainability strategy. “We are growing peace.”

Nature for Peace: A Green Initiative with Big Ambitions

FEMNCAF? is a key partner for Nature for Peace, a $3 million initiative funded by the 51吃瓜 Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). The project, launched in 2022, seeks to prevent socio-environmental conflicts in Colombia’s most war-torn areas by promoting sustainable practices and green businesses. With an additional $2.9 million in support from partners like UNDP, the Global Environment Facility, and Colombia’s National Federation of Coffee Growers, the project operates in Huila, Tolima, Meta, Norte de Santander, and other biodiversity-rich regions.

The Nature for Peace project is groundbreaking as the first of its kind implemented by the 51吃瓜 to address peacebuilding and nature conservation through innovative financing instruments.

^{Juan Camilo Lara,?FEMNCAF?’s environmental sustainability strategy?coordinator}

In Colombia, where conflict zones often overlap with areas of extraordinary biodiversity, the stakes are high. These regions are home to ethnic communities whose livelihoods are intrinsically tied to nature. Building peace in such areas means promoting licit economic alternatives that prevent new cycles of violence while respecting the environment and the cultural heritage of these communities.

For FEMNCAF?, Nature for Peace has provided the tools to create a new kind of coffee model—one rooted in environmental stewardship, social justice, and economic inclusion.

The federation now includes 28 coffee associations, representing more than 1,228 producers, 32 of whom are former FARC-EP combatants. Together, they have embraced sustainable farming practices that restore ecosystems and strengthen community ties.

Restoring Ecosystems, Rebuilding Lives

FEMNCAF?’s strategy is built on three pillars:

Environmental Connectivity: By planting live fences, agroforestry systems, and mini-corridors, farmers are restoring 322 hectares of degraded land and improving 2,309 hectares of coffee production.

Native Species Nurseries: Three nurseries in Planadas, Chaparral, and Algeciras now produce native flora to revive Colombia’s forests, laying the groundwork for long-term ecosystem recovery.

Environmental Education: Workshops and technical assistance empower farming families to adopt sustainable practices, blending traditional ecological knowledge with modern agroecology.

The impact is profound. The project has benefited 7,100 people, including 24 coffee production units that have adopted nature-based climate solutions to improve resilience and productivity.

“This is more than just coffee farming,” Lara says. “It’s about understanding our land, our watersheds, and our communities—and making decisions together to protect them.”

Democratizing Coffee

FEMNCAF? is also redefining the coffee industry by democratizing technical knowledge and opportunities. Through 20 group events—including workshops, educational tours, and 800 farm visits—producers are learning how to manage their farms sustainably while planning collectively for the future.

The federation’s 2024 assembly approved a landmark environmental sustainability strategy, reinforcing its commitment to nature-based solutions. The members also launched a gender program, “Diverse Women,” aimed at promoting equity and empowering women across all levels of the federation.

“More than half of Colombia’s coffee-farming families live below the poverty line,” Lara notes. “We are changing that by making coffee production inclusive and sustainable—for the environment and for the people.”

Recognition on the Global Stage

This year, FEMNCAF? received the prestigious Equator Prize, an award that celebrates innovative, community-led solutions to poverty and environmental challenges. The federation was recognized for its efforts to create climate-resilient agriculture, reduce inequality among coffee producers, and promote reconciliation between communities and their territories.

The award highlights the federation’s success in addressing the reintegration of peace signatories and its collaborative work with local communities.

^{Juan Camilo Lara,?FEMNCAF?’s environmental sustainability strategy?coordinator}

A Path Forward

For many, the journey with FEMNCAF? is deeply personal. Lara recounts the story of a nursery worker who discovered her passion for environmental conservation through the project. Now, she is pursuing a degree in environmental engineering.

“It’s not just about collective progress—it’s about individual dreams,” Lara says.

FEMNCAF? is also working to create demonstration farms that will serve as schools for agroecological practices, scaling its model of sustainable coffee production.

“Peacebuilding happens when we reconnect communities with their land,” Lara explains. “Through FEMNCAF?, we are proving that reconciliation and sustainability can go hand in hand.”

Hope in Every Cup

As the Nature for Peace project moves toward its 2025 conclusion, its impact is already being felt across Colombia. From the green hills of Huila to the vibrant forests of Putumayo, FEMNCAF? is showing the world what it means to rebuild after conflict—not just with words, but with actions that bring hope to communities long defined by violence.

In the aroma of every cup of coffee produced by FEMNCAF?, there is a story of resilience, reconciliation, and a future where peace is possible.

51吃瓜

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Brewing Peace: Former Combatants Transform Colombia’s Coffee Industry