Maya Vinic
Maya Vinic · Chiapas, Mexico
About this project
Maya Vinic has been implementing a climate change adaptation plan for their farms in the highlands of Chiapas — and Cooperative Coffees has been part of that work, previously supporting a fruit tree distribution. This project takes that foundation further with two complementary efforts: renovating coffee plantations with climate-resistant varietals, and establishing a nursery of native shade trees — particularly the chalum tree (Inga spp.) — that do far more than provide shade.
The chalum is a leguminous native species with a remarkable set of properties: it fixes nitrogen in the soil (reducing the need for external fertilizer), provides food for farming families, attracts pests away from coffee plants, and cools the microclimate of the farm. Some Maya Vinic members already maintain small chalum nurseries. This project scales that practice cooperatively, distributing 68 kg of Inga spp. seed to plant 75,000 trees across 280 hectares.
The coffee renovation side of the project mirrors traditional Mayan seed-selection practices: members are trained to identify their most productive trees, reserve seeds from those plants, and use them in renovation — building autonomy and preserving locally adapted genetic material rather than depending on commercial seedlings.
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Project goals
Establish family-level coffee nurseries totaling 170,000 coffee tree seedlings capable of renovating 83 hectares, using seeds selected by members from their own most productive and climate-resilient trees.
Distribute 68 kg of native chalum (Inga spp.) seed to plant 75,000 shade trees across 280 hectares — providing nitrogen fixation, food production, pest management, and temperature regulation for coffee farms.
Provide technical assistance across both activities, including training on shade management, pruning, live barriers, and reforestation as core tools for ongoing climate adaptation.
Who this supports
Project updates
June 2026 — Funding approved
The Cooperative Coffees impact fund approved $12,500 for Maya Vinic's coffee renovation and shade tree nursery project. Seed distribution and nursery establishment are being coordinated with cooperative field staff across Chiapas.
Updates coming as nurseries are established and trees go in the ground. Check back soon.