Marbin Asunción Villegas is a coffee farmer continuing a legacy passed down through generations. ‘Coffee in my family comes from my grandparents, they came here and dedicated themselves to coffee. They taught my father, then my father taught us. And we continue with the descendants of cultivating coffee and trying to improve every year,’ Marbin says with pride.

But while the tradition remains, the approach has changed. Marbin has embraced new opportunities to strengthen his farm and community. With support from Sol & Café and Fairtrade, he’s taken part in technical training that helps him plan ahead, choose coffee varieties that are more resilient to pests, and use more sustainable farming methods. These changes aren’t just about growing coffee – they’re about making sure the land stays healthy for the next generation.

One of the most meaningful changes for Marbin has been the introduction of agroforestry. This means planting more trees like laurels and eucalyptus alongside coffee plants. These trees help restore soil, provide shade, and protect biodiversity, while also giving farmers extra income from timber or other products. As Marbin explains, ‘Fairtrade has also allowed us to implement agroforestry demonstration plots…which generates a double income for members’. The co-operative’s reforestation plan is all about bringing life back to the land and making coffee farms more resilient to climate change.

Marbin is proud of what he and other coffee farmers have achieved with Fairtrade support. ‘The change in the lives of the farmers has been a real 360-degree leap, and all this has been possible thanks to Fairtrade.’  

Marbin hopes coffee lovers will take a moment to think about the people and places behind each cup: 

‘To consumers, I invite you to choose a coffee that comes directly from organic producers. Coffee is a fundamental part of our lives; it is the daily source of income of every coffee producing family. Without coffee, we could not live.’