In February 2013, the Sustainability and Coffee Departments at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) teamed up to conduct a survey of our supply chain partners to learn about how rust was affecting producers in their network and to understand the household-level impacts of the rust epidemic.

1. GMCR Supply Chain Outreach
Roya Survey Results Summary
A. Background
A twenty-four question survey about the impacts of the Coffee Leaf Rust fungus, or “la roya,” was
developed in Spanish by the Supply Chain Outreach team in the web-based Survey Monkey tool:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFDLNXK
The survey was sent out to three GMCR distribution lists: (1) the Supply Chain Outreach team sent the
survey to key contacts of social projects in coffee-growing communities (principally coops and NGOs)
and (2) the Coffee Department sent the Spanish survey to key contacts of their suppliers (principally
coops and importers), and (3) the Coffee Department sent a condensed, English version to importers.
The Spanish version of the survey was sent on Monday, February 8, 2013 and there were 96 responses
as of February 28, 2013. There were 15 responses to the English version of the survey. Each question
below indicates if the responses represent the complete set of responses (111) or a subset of responses
that were in Spanish (96).
B. Results Summary
1. Organization Type
Organization where you work (out of 111 responses)
Count Organization Type
64 Cooperative
14 NGO
11 blank
19 Other Supply Chain Partner (SCP)
3 Finca or large estate
Survey details contain names of responding organizations
2. Name
Survey details contain names of responders
3. Location
Country/ Region/ Community where you work
(out of 111 responses)
Roya_Survey Results Summary 1 of 10 3/14/2013

2. GMCR Supply Chain Outreach
Roya Survey Results Summary
Count Country
22 Peru
16 Nicaragua
14 Colombia
14 Guatemala
14 Honduras
7 Costa Rica
7 Mexico
5 Latin America
3 blank
3 El Salvador
3 Global
2 USA
1 Brazil
Survey details contain names of specific regions and communities
4. Roya Evidence
Question: Have you seen directly or heard from coffee producers about the effect la roya has had
on the coffee harvest? (out of 111 responses)
Count Answer
86 Yes
6 Some
3 No
15 Blank
1 Unknown
5. Certified Organic Percentage
Question: What is the percentage of Certified Organic producers do you work with?
(out of 111 responses)
Count Answer
37 blank
17 100% Organic
19 75% Organic
5 50% Organic
10 25% Organic
18 10% Organic
5 0% Organic
6. Organic vs. Non-Organic Impact
Question: What differences have you noted of the impact la roya has had on organic versus non-
organic producers? (out of 111 responses)
Roya_Survey Results Summary 2 of 10 3/14/2013

3. GMCR Supply Chain Outreach
Roya Survey Results Summary
Mentions Theme
26 No significant difference
17 Unknown
15 More impact on organic farms
12 Impact dependent on farm management, not certification
9 Less impact on organic farms
7 Differences appear with options to combat roya
5 Altitude, variety, soil made the difference
7. Financial Impact
Question: As a result of la roya, what financial impacts you have seen?
(Out of 96 responses)
Mentions Theme (Financial Impacts)
27 Lost income
15 Debt, loan, contract defaults (for producer and coop)
13 Lack of income to survive, therefore, not reinvesting in coffee or coop
maintenance
9 Unclear impacts at present
5 Less regularly planned expansion/renovation, planting new varieties,
more chemical use, lower quality from roya tolerant varieties
4 Unemployment
4 No impact at present
1 Hurt national economy
Mentions Theme (triggers of Financial Impacts)
8 Lost yield
6 Low prices
1 Lack of access to financing
8. Current Year Losses
Question: Percent of coffee that has been lost THIS year as a result of roya.
(out of 111 responses)
Count Answer
3 5% Loss
23 10% Loss
3 15% Loss
31 25% Loss
3 35% Loss
16 50% Loss
3 75% Loss
29 blank
Roya_Survey Results Summary 3 of 10 3/14/2013

4. GMCR Supply Chain Outreach
Roya Survey Results Summary
9. Next Year Losses
Question: Percent of coffee that will be lost NEXT year as a result of roya.
(out of 111 responses)
Count Answer
13 10% Loss
32 25% Loss
5 35% Loss
26 50% Loss
8 75% Loss
1 unknown
26 blank
10. Lost Income
Question: Lost income as a result of la roya
(out of 111 responses)
Mentions Response
16 Can't estimate
52 Estimate of lost income provided*
2 blank
* Survey details contain specific responses to this question. Free responses could not be aggregated
because they were listed as a percentage of lost income or an estimate of the amount of dollars lost,
and ranged from a per farmer estimate to an estimate on national or global losses.
11. Coffee Harvest affected by the roya
Question: Percent of coffee harvest affected by the roya.
(out of 96 responses)
Count Answer
13 10% Affected
32 25% Affected
19 50% Affected
5 75% Affected
1 100% Affected
26 blank
12. Actions (current)
Question: Please list the actions used to combat la roya. (out of 111 responses)
Mentions Theme
31 Coffee Plant Renovations/ Technical Agronomy Trainings
28 Use of fungicides or chemicals
Roya_Survey Results Summary 4 of 10 3/14/2013

5. GMCR Supply Chain Outreach
Roya Survey Results Summary
Switching to organic crops/reinforcement of shade grown coffee or
21 preventative tactics
19 Switching to new resistant coffee strains
12 Pruning/ eliminating crops
4 No Action Taken (Diagnostics only)
1 National advocacy/action
1 Abandon farm
13. Impact on Yields Next Year
Question: What do you believe will be the impact on coffee yields next year as a result of roya?
(out of 111 responses)
Count Answer
18 High impact on yields (no percentage given)
18 25%-50% yield decrease
13 50% yield decrease
11 Low impact because renovation program already in place
11 10%-25% yield decrease
5 5% or less yield decrease
5 Not known
2 75% yield decrease
28 blank
14. Local Support
Question: Please list available local support to combat la roya epidemic
(out of 96 responses)
Mentions Theme
29 Technical assistance offered/ Prevention trainings
26 No assistance available
15 Government /Cooperatives assistance - Supplies, chemicals, etc.
9 Government /Cooperative assistance - Funds
3 Support Available ONLY if conditions are met (changing coffee variety)
15. Credit Available
Question: What credit is available, if any, at this time?
(out of 96 responses)
Mentions Theme
24 No credit available
23 Credit available through bank
16 Credit through government available or through private entities
10 Credit available but interest is too high/requires land rights/requires
some type of equity from farmer
6 Short term credit available only or must change coffee variety to
obtain it
5 Credit through cooperative available
Roya_Survey Results Summary 5 of 10 3/14/2013

6. GMCR Supply Chain Outreach
Roya Survey Results Summary
16. Household Impacts
Question: As a result of roya, what are the impacts you have seen on the home level?
(out of 96 responses)
Mentions Theme
22 Less coffee, less income
13 Worry, discouragement, concern, fear, uncertainty
10 Won't know until after the harvest
9 Food insecurity
7 Migration and immigration
6 Debt
5 Lack of education
3 Taking kids out of school
3 Lower quality coffee
2 Lack of healthcare
2 Malnutrition
17. Household Income Impact
Question: What is the impact roya has had on household income? (out of 111 responses)
Mentions Theme
39 Less, lower income
10 Less money for basic needs (food, clothing, education, and home
improvements)
17 Harvest not over, don't know, don't know yet, haven't seen stats
4 Debt, difficulty paying back debt
2 Migration / immigration
3 Too dependent on coffee
2 Not spending, lower spending
1 Farm abandonment
1 Looking for other income streams
2 blank
18. Diet Changes
Question: What changes have you seen in families’ abilities to get food and maintain their daily diet?
(out of 111 responses)
Mentions Themes
18 Harvest isn’t over yet, don't know yet, no stats yet
10 Food diversification
5 Less food and lower quality
5 Off farm work
4 Expanding food plots
3 Food rationing
2 Growing more in pots / patios
Roya_Survey Results Summary 6 of 10 3/14/2013

7. GMCR Supply Chain Outreach
Roya Survey Results Summary
3 Reducing purchases of basic necesities
3 Less money
2 Food security projects
1 Increased prices in basic foods
1 Debt / borrow money
1 Thin months will be harder longer
6 blank
19. Household Strategies
Question: What strategies have you seen families employ as a result of the negative effects of la
roya? (out of 111 responses)
Mentions Themes
22 Farm management techniques to prevent/combat roya (nurseries,
plant other varieties of coffee, renovate)
20 Crop diversification or livestock production for income & consumption
19 Migrate, seek other work
10 Obtain income (sell land, collaborative groups, obtain credit, non-
profit support)
9 Unknown, too soon to tell
7 Cut back on expenses, invest less in farm, pull kids from school to work
on farm
5 None
3 Go into debt, increase crime
1 Abandon Farm
5 Blank
20. Other Income Sources
Question: What percentage of families has additional income resources besides coffee to
compensate for the economic impact of la roya? (out of 111 responses)
Mentions Themes
40 10%-30% have other sources of income
17 Farmers have no other source of income
9 30%-50% have other sources of income
5 Other additional sources such as beans, bananas, etc.
4 Other sources of income available, but still effect felt at household
level
3 50%+ have other sources of income
3 Blank
21. Organizational Strategies
Question: What initiatives has your organization taken to combat the effects of la roya, if any? If
yes, what initiatives have been taken? (out of 111 responses)
Roya_Survey Results Summary 7 of 10 3/14/2013

8. GMCR Supply Chain Outreach
Roya Survey Results Summary
Mentions Themes
37 Technical support provided/and or supplies provided
20 Financial help provided (FLO, loans, credit)
12 Renovation Supports/and or income diversification support
12 Diagnostics or and/Collaboration with other sectors, entities,
government or industry
10 No initiative/strategy taken
3 Blank
22. Short and Long term Solutions
Question: Can you list some short and long term solutions and initiatives to fight roya?
(out of 96 responses)
Mentions Themes
37 Renovation, use rust resistant varieties
28 Better soil nutrition, compost, good agricultural practices, technical
assistance
16 Spray, fumigate, fertilize, prune
12 Education, training, communication and outreach
12 Help with financing, credits
5 Manage shade
4 Diversify, food security, gardens,
23. Industry Strategies
Question: What are some initiatives you think that the coffee industry could implement to combat
la roya? (out of 111 responses)
Mentions Themes
28 Financing/program for renovation, low interest financing/loans, access
to credit, soft credit/provision of inputs
27 Technical assistance, experiential exchanges, training, education,
improved technology, climate change plan, diversification
12 Plant/research new varieties
11 Research, monitoring, working group, consumer education
10 Just prices for producers, prices set by producers, stable prices, direct
trade, better differentials
4 Price, quality-based, ecological/sustainable production incentives
4 Grant funds, emergency fund, insurance for loss from disease or
natural disaster
1 Too soon to know
Roya_Survey Results Summary 8 of 10 3/14/2013

9. GMCR Supply Chain Outreach
Roya Survey Results Summary
24. Other Comments
Question: Do you have any other comments that you would like to share about the impact that roya
has or will have on the future of coffee producers? (out of 111 responses)
Mentions Themes
16 Reduced income, need to diversify income, food insecurity,
vulnerability, poverty, increased local cost of goods
14 Country/industry support needed
10 Low production/yield, low market price, high production costs
10 Plant resistant varieties, lower quality, lack of diversity due to planting
resistant varieties
10 Aging plants, poor management and plant care, renovation needed,
technical assistance needed
7 Climate Change
7 More info needed to accurately assess situation
1 Migration/leave coffee/illicit crops
1 Any action taken is dependent on producer/coop budget
1 Will see changes in “C” as result of la roya
C. Word Clouds
Using the free-response responses of the survey, we created the word cloud below in Spanish. We also
created one in English using text from rough translations of responses from several questions, but it is
less representative of the true survey responses.
1. Spanish Word Cloud (based on participant responses)
Roya_Survey Results Summary 9 of 10 3/14/2013

10. GMCR Supply Chain Outreach
Roya Survey Results Summary
2. English Word Cloud (based on rough translations of some questions)
Roya_Survey Results Summary 10 of 10 3/14/2013