Discover how the project in Tanzania is using cutting-edge technology to optimize water usage, improve farm sustainability, and shape the future of coffee production worldwide.
BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Photos courtesy of Massimo Battaglia
As climate change accelerates, coffee producers are facing unprecedented challenges. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and prolonged droughts threaten the delicate balance needed for coffee cultivation. Traditional knowledge alone can no longer keep up with these shifting environmental conditions. This is where the ConSenso project steps in.
A collaboration between Accademia del Caffè Espresso, Project Nature (PNAT), and Cisco, ConSenso leverages cutting-edge technology to monitor the health of coffee plants at Utengule Coffee Farm in Tanzania. Using solar-powered sensors and an advanced data transmission network, the project aims to optimize water usage, improve farm sustainability, and ultimately develop guidelines that could reshape coffee farming worldwide.
To gain deeper insights into its progress, we sat down with Massimo Battaglia, coffee history & research leader at Accademia del Caffè Espresso.
Uncovering Coffee’s Bioelectric Signals
“For us, it is essential to be at the forefront of technological innovation while remaining deeply connected to coffee plants,“ Massimo states. At the core of ConSenso is a network of 52 solar-powered sensors, a weather station, and plant-growth monitors, all designed to capture data in real time.
These sensors track a variety of parameters: electrical activity, hydration levels, soil temperature, and humidity, among others. “The plant sensors function like heartbeat monitors for trees,“ Massimo explains. “They allow us to listen to the plants and respond to their needs rather than imposing solutions blindly.“
The data is transmitted via LoRaWAN technology—a long-range, low-power wireless network—to a data center in Florence, Italy, where researchers analyze trends and correlations. One key discovery so far has been the strong connection between soil moisture and plant growth. “We’ve seen that higher surface humidity significantly supports the healthy development of coffee plants,“ Massimo notes. “Conversely, elevated temperatures, particularly during dry spells, negatively impact growth.“
A Coffee Farm as a Carbon Sink
Beyond plant health, ConSenso is also measuring the farm’s ability to store carbon. Coffee farms, especially those with shade trees, have the potential to act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 and reducing the industry’s overall carbon footprint.
“Our findings confirm that coffee plantations—when managed with shade trees—function as productive forests,“ Massimo says. “They store carbon, making them an essential part of climate mitigation strategies. This could also open up opportunities for coffee producers to earn carbon credits in the future.“
Challenges in High-Tech Coffee Research
Despite its potential, implementing an advanced technological system on a working farm has not been without challenges. “One of the biggest obstacles is balancing high-tech research with day-to-day farm operations,“ Massimo admits. “Farmers need solutions that are not only scientifically sound but also practical and easy to integrate.“
Farmers at Utengule have shown keen interest in the project, eager to see how data-driven farming could improve productivity and resilience. “They’re waiting for concrete results—guidelines that will help them optimize resources and improve sustainability,“ Massimo says. “At the end of the next agricultural cycle, we hope to provide them with actionable insights.“
Scaling Up: Can Smallholder Farmers Access This Technology?
The potential applications of ConSenso stretch far beyond Tanzania. “The technology is adaptable to different coffee-growing conditions—altitude, soil type, and climate extremes,“ Massimo explains. But how feasible is it for smallholder farmers, who make up the majority of the coffee industry?
“To adopt these technologies, smallholders will need to collaborate through cooperatives or receive government and international support,“ Massimo acknowledges. “They can’t do it alone. They didn’t cause climate change, yet they bear the brunt of its consequences. It’s critical that they receive the help they need.“
Water Scarcity: The Defining Issue for Coffee in Mbeya
In the Mbeya region of Tanzania, where Utengule is located, water availability is increasingly unpredictable. “Water is the defining issue here,“ Massimo stresses. “ConSenso aims to provide coffee farmers with precise indicators to monitor water stress and optimize irrigation.“
One striking finding from the project has been the role of shade trees in water retention. “Strategic shade management helps coffee plants conserve water and grow more efficiently,“ Massimo says. “The right balance of shade trees can make a plantation more resilient to climate shifts.“
The Future of Coffee Farming: A Tech-Driven Revolution?
With IoT sensors, AI-driven analytics, and real-time data streaming into research centers, coffee farming is becoming increasingly tech-driven. “The next frontier,“ Massimo predicts, “is shifting from reactive to proactive farming. Instead of waiting for signs of stress, we will be able to anticipate plant needs and adapt before problems arise.“
As ConSenso moves forward, its findings could help shape new global strategies for sustainable coffee production. “The key takeaway from this project,“ Massimo concludes, “is that the future of coffee farming lies in listening—to the environment, to data, and most importantly, to the plants themselves.“
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior online correspondent for Barista Magazine and a freelance copywriter and editor with a primary focus on the coffee niche. She has also been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, providing content to help educate people about baristas and their work.
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