Identification and implementation of water efficiency and decontamination technologies in the Colombian coffee sector

About this project

The project “Improving Water Efficiency in the Coffee Sector in the Magdalena Region” is implemented under the Partners for Water (PfW) programme by a consortium consisting of AidEnvironment, Fundación Herencia Ambiental Caribe, and Deltares. The project aims to reduce water pollution from coffee processing, improve water efficiency, and contribute to biodiversity conservation in Colombia’s Magdalena department.The project focuses on the Fundación and Aracataca watersheds, which form an important hydrological link between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, two ecosystems of high ecological, cultural and hydrological value. Coffee production is a key livelihood in these watersheds, but current processing practices generate nutrient-rich wastewater that poses risks to surface water quality and downstream ecosystems.The project focuses on preventing pollution at the source through an integrated, on-farm circular processing design. Central to the project is a pilot system that treats coffee pulp and processing wastewater together, using Black Soldier Fly larvae to convert organic by-products into reusable outputs. This closed-loop design is intended to fully eliminate liquid discharge from coffee processing, retain nutrients on the farm, and significantly reduce pressure on surrounding water bodies.The project works with coffee farmers, local partners, and sector institutions to design, install, and evaluate this system under local conditions…

Published by

Netherlands Enterprise Agency · Government

Countries

Colombia

Sectors

Water resources conservation (including data collection)Agricultural water resources

Focus

Climate adaptation · Also contributes

Funded by

Netherlands Enterprise Agency

Implemented by

Stichting Aidenvironment

Accountable

Netherlands Enterprise Agency

Published by Netherlands Enterprise Agency to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), last updated 3 Dec 2025 and imported automatically. IATI identifier: NL-KVK-27378529-PVW523CO09.

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