• A Charles Sturt University academic has received a Crawford Fund award to support his research in Timor-Leste
• The project investigates the temperature impact of shade trees on coffee agroforestry systems
• The award facilitates agricultural research undertaken overseas for projects with a strong focus on food security

Research by a Charles Sturt University academic aimed at enhancing coffee production while preserving livelihoods and the environment in Timor-Leste has been awarded new funding.

PhD student and Adjunct Research Fellow in the Charles Sturt School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Mr Jorge Ramos, received the Crawford Fund award for his work in food sustainability.

The award facilitates agricultural research undertaken overseas for projects with a strong focus on food security, favouring projects like Mr Ramos’ which demonstrate benefits to the host country and residential country of the applicant. 

Mr Ramos, who is based at Charles Sturt University in Albury, said his work focused on Timor-Leste’s main agricultural export, coffee - 100 per cent of which is produced under the shade of trees in agroforestry systems.

“Excessive tree shade is regarded by the Timorese coffee sector as a contributing factor to low coffee production, and as a result, many coffee farmers are reducing the canopy of shade trees in these agroforestry systems,” Mr Ramos said.

“Others are maintaining it, or even increasing shade tree density, but all these changes are likely to affect the microclimate of coffee sites in the region.”

Mr Ramos said excessive tree shade reduction in the coffee agroforestry systems of Timor-Leste could increase temperatures inside these systems, and with it, the risk of deforestation if coffee crops start to fail, prompting farmers to establish new plantations in cooler, higher grounds.

“I believe it’s important for Timorese to gain understanding of how different tree shade densities and temperatures correlate, and what proportion of tree shade canopy is viable for coffee plants, especially if we consider the increasing regional temperatures that are already impacting coffee production in Timor-Leste,” Mr Ramos said.

“I also believe it’s important to understand what motivates farmers to maintain, increase or reduce tree shade.

“It is widely accepted that when farmers’ perceptions are considered, better policy design is possible.”

The new funding will be used to hire an interpreter or field assistant for data collection as part of Mr Ramos’ team’s current study in Ermera, Timor-Leste.

Transportation, accommodation and other related expenses will also be funded by the award.

“With the funding awarded, we’ll now be able to collect the next round of household data to gain understanding of farmers’ perceptions regarding management of tree shade in coffee systems of Timor-Leste,” Mr Ramos said.

“The funding will also help us collect biophysical data, such as tree shade diversity, stocking of shade trees, canopy shade proportions, and density of coffee plants.”

Mr Ramos said the award is a valuable contribution to his research.

“First and foremost, I should mention that my research work is a team effort,” he said.

“This research wouldn’t be possible without Jen Bond, Ana Horta, Remy Dehaan from Charles Sturt University and Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez from Western Sydney University.

“I’m also fortunate to receive strong support from the Spatial Data Analysis Network (SPAN) team at Charles Sturt University.

“I have a lot of gratitude for the Crawford Fund and my research team, a sense of satisfaction, and a degree of financial confidence to embark on the next round of field work.”

ENDS