Coffee production in Colombia has always been about more than yields alone. It is deeply tied to livelihoods, land stewardship, and long-term sustainability for more than 500,000 farming families across the country.
As the industry evolves, so do expectations around how coffee is grown—starting at the nursery level.
In recent years, the conversation around sustainability in Colombian coffee has become more concrete. Growers are being asked to rethink long-standing practices, particularly the use of fertile soil and single-use plastic in seedling production. What was once considered standard practice is now being reconsidered in light of environmental impact, regulatory pressure, and operational efficiency.
This shift marks a meaningful change in how coffee seedlings are produced and it opens the door to new, practical solutions.
The Colombian Coffee Federation’s Push Toward Plastic-Free Nurseries
The Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC) has recently issued guidance encouraging growers to stop using fertile soil directly and to eliminate plastic from coffee nurseries. This recommendation reflects a broader effort to modernize seedling production while aligning with sustainability goals and upcoming regulations.
For growers, this guidance responds to real challenges facing the sector, including:
- The environmental impact of removing fertile soil for nursery use
- The growing volume of plastic waste generated by traditional seedling bags
- Increasing phytosanitary risks associated with soil-based systems
- Regulatory pressure, including Colombia’s Law 2232 (2022), which bans single-use plastics by 2030
At the same time, coffee plantations require renewal roughly every 20 years. That makes seedling quality non-negotiable. Strong, uniform plants at the nursery stage directly affect productivity and stability in the field for years, sometimes decades, to come.
What the Shift Away From Plastic Means for Coffee Growers
For many growers, moving away from plastic and soil-based nurseries can feel like a big change. Plastic bags are familiar, widely used, and deeply embedded in traditional workflows. But they also come with hidden costs (both environmental and operational).
Traditional nursery systems often require thousands of plastic bags per hectare, along with large volumes of fertile soil. Managing weeds, handling heavy materials, and dealing with transplant losses all add time, labor, and expense.
The FNC’s guidance signals that change is coming, but it also acknowledges a key reality: growers need alternatives that work in practice, not just on paper. Any new system must support healthy seedlings, fit into existing operations, and make sense economically over time.
Jiffy Pellets as a Practical Alternative for Coffee Seedling Production
This is where Jiffy Pellets enter the picture. Rather than asking growers to compromise on plant quality, pellet-based systems offer a different way to approach seedling production—one that removes plastic from the process while supporting strong early development.
Jiffy Pellets are compressed growing media discs made from peat (with peat + coir options available upon request), wrapped in biodegradable netting that naturally decomposes in the soil (in accordance with EN 13432 standards). Once hydrated, each pellet expands into a stable, uniform growing environment for coffee seedlings.
Instead of filling plastic bags with soil, growers can raise seedlings in a consistent, lightweight format designed specifically for propagation.
More detail on this shift is outlined here.
Research-Backed Results From Colombian Coffee Trials
Importantly, this move toward pellet-based propagation is not based on theory alone. Cenicafé, the research center of the FNC, has conducted extensive trials comparing coffee seedlings grown in Jiffy Pellets with those grown in traditional plastic bags.
The results showed that:
- Seedlings grown in Jiffy Pellets demonstrated no significant yield differences compared to those grown in plastic bags
- Root systems were stronger and better balanced, supporting improved transplant success
- Plant losses after transplanting were lower
- Nursery efficiency improved, with fewer weeds and simpler handling
- Logistical costs were reduced due to lighter, more compact materials
For growers, these findings show that moving away from plastic does not mean sacrificing performance or productivity.
Practical Benefits for Growers, Industry, and the Environment
From the grower’s perspective, pellet-based propagation supports:
- Simpler nursery management
- Stronger, more uniform seedlings
- Reduced handling and transplant shock
- Lower long-term costs tied to labor and logistics
At the industry level, this transition supports alignment with global sustainability standards and strengthens Colombia’s position in international coffee markets, where environmental practices increasingly influence buyer decisions.
From an environmental standpoint, the benefits are straightforward: reduced use of fertile soil, elimination of plastic waste at the nursery stage, and cleaner production systems with fewer inputs.
Why Pellets Fit Into Real-World Coffee Operations
One of the reasons pellets are gaining traction is that they work with growers’ realities rather than against them.
Pellets offer several functional advantages:
- Stronger root systems, supported by air-pruning through the netting
- Efficient water use, with some formulations holding up to seven times their weight in water
- Logistical gains, thanks to a dry, compact format that reduces storage and transport volume
- Reduced labor, as seedlings can be planted directly without removing containers
- Consistent, faster germination, driven by uniform media and balanced air-to-water ratios
These benefits make it easier for growers to adapt nursery practices without adding complexity or risk.
A Turning Point for Coffee Seedling Production in Colombia
Coffee cultivation in Colombia stands at an important crossroads. The push to eliminate plastic from nurseries reflects a broader effort to protect natural resources while maintaining productivity and economic viability for growers.
The FNC’s guidance makes it clear that the future of coffee seedling production will look different from the past. Pellet-based systems offer a proven, research-backed path forward—one that supports regulatory compliance, sustainability goals, and the practical needs of growers in the field.
For many coffee producers, this transition is less about adopting something new and more about finding better ways to do what they already do: grow strong plants, protect their land, and plan for the long term.
Let’s work together
Jiffy is a leading global supplier of premium growing media and solution thinking. We aim to serve you, our customers in plant propagation and cultivation, to achieve better results with fewer worries. We do this by continually improving, innovating, and working toward our common goals, based on scientific research, teamwork, and decades of experience. Let’s develop sustainable plant growing solutions together: Let’s start today!