The Role of Youth in Coffee Communities as Drivers of Change Shaping Coffee
by Aliisa Oake
Youth raised in coffee growing communities grow alongside the agricultural cycle of coffee, having early childhood memories playing amongst coffee trees. From a young age, they spent many years witnessing the care, patience, and hard work required in coffee cultivation, learning what it means to be a coffee farmer. Through these experiences, young people inherit generational farming knowledge and evolve with a changing environment, making them more adaptable and open to new technologies. By acclimating to transformations in their societies, the role of youth in coffee communities are important drivers of change shaping the future of coffee.
But a challenge arises as some young people in rural communities search for more stable career paths elsewhere. A strong desire to pursue a future that sounds more promising than what they believe coffee farming holds has led to the migration of a growing number of young people, which is contributing to a smaller population of coffee farmers. With the future of coffee depending on the willingness of young entrepreneurs to continue their family’s coffee legacy, it’s essential to invest in their growth by equipping them with resources and knowledge required to create sustainable futures within their rural communities.
Young coffee producer walking through fields in Antigua coffee growing region of Guatemala
In honor of International Youth Day 2026, De La Gente is highlighting the role of youth in Guatemala’s coffee growing communities. We’re standing with young entrepreneurs and encouraging them to continue their entrepreneurial endeavors by acknowledging their growth, hard work, and achievements. By supporting their goals in coffee and beyond, we’re bringing awareness of how youth are shaping the future of their communities in Guatemala, and how they can continue to feel supported. In our partnership with the youth-run cooperative, The Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar, we advocate for and uplift the role of youth by championing their entrepreneurial initiatives and investing in their long-term success. Youth hold essential positions as drivers of change in their communities — and when youth feel supported, they hold the ability to turn dreams into realities.
Obstacles Causing Young Farmers to Leave Coffee Communities
Many of the barriers faced in coffee communities in Guatemala result in being a driver of change impacting the future of their society — although these drivers of change aren’t necessarily positive. To name a few, unpredictable climate change triggers coffee plant diseases like coffee leaf rust and lower harvest rates. Volatile global market prices create uncertainty and place additional stresses on the economic positioning of farmers. Environmental, economic, and logistical barriers in coffee communities contribute to challenges associated with sustaining a livelihood in coffee farming. Labor shortages have been more prevalent as the global population of coffee producers age and rural migration increases.
In relation to migration issues, fewer young people are choosing agriculturally-focused career paths, such as continuing their involvement in coffee farming. In Latin America, 20% of the region’s total population are between the ages of 15 and 24 with the average age of a coffee farmer being above 50 years old. Economic uncertainty and overcoming climate related issues are leaving young coffee growers feeling hesitant about what lies ahead. From a broader perspective, concerns regarding who will continue producing coffee in the future are rising. Society shapes the roles of youth in coffee communities, so when some leave rural regions in search of better opportunities, others are likely to follow. If a community doesn’t offer growth or long-term opportunities, why stay if more options are available elsewhere?
School within town of La Unión, home to Santa Anita Cooperative in rural San Marcos region of Guatemala
Overcoming the obstacle of young people moving away from coffee farming begins with investing in their futures and inspiring them to create opportunities within their communities. Advancing knowledge, sharing new ideas, and demonstrating the use of modern day technologies in relation to coffee farming creates an appeal for young farmers to advance their agricultural operations and view coffee farming as a viable business. Young coffee producers play roles as young entrepreneurs in their society, forever adapting to an ever-changing world. By being equipped with the right tools that further them in their endeavors, they hold an unlimited potential to create positive change and address constraints faced by their communities.
Building Resilience by Empowering Young Farmers as Drivers of Change
The roles of youth in coffee communities are uniquely positioned, bringing an advantage of having an increased level of openness, curiosity, and willingness to embrace change. Having grown up alongside evolving technology, they’re naturally adaptable in a modernizing world. This adaptability is driving innovative farming strategies that spur interest among young farmers. By encouraging youth to take on these innovations and apply them to generational farming and cultivation techniques, it strengthens the longevity and sustainability of coffee.
In De La Gente’s partnership with coffee cooperatives in Antigua Guatemala, we have seen how young coffee farmers are drawn towards advancing knowledge of coffee cultivation, processing techniques, and technological related solutions. The members of The Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar have embodied an eagerness to learn, which is a reminder of the importance of accessible education to shaping the next generation of leaders in rural communities. We support this group directly by offering trainings, professional development, and providing grants to young farmers in support of their career paths.
members of the Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar - Alvaro (left), Alfonso (middle), and Luis (right)
Innovation Demonstrated by Young Farmers
To encourage young farmers to remain involved in the industry, it’s important to showcase coffee as a career with real potential for innovation and technological growth. Increasing individual and collaborative benefits empowers young people navigate industry challenges and establish long-term careers with the right support. Young farmers are among the industry’s most influential drivers of change, yet their involvement can feel limited.
In an interview with Luis Rodríguez, one of the members of the Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar, he mentioned that he’s been involved in coffee farming since he was a child. What inspires him to continue his involvement is the ways he’s seen how coffee has helped to improve people’s quality of life — giving many families the chance to build a better future. Luis is currently studying Computer Engineering and in the future, he hopes to apply his knowledge and skills from his studies to support specialty coffee farming and develop solutions to benefit small-scale coffee producers.
“During my studies, I have worked on several projects related to coffee farming. One of them involved using artificial intelligence to analyze photographs of coffee leaves in order to identify possible pests or diseases. I believe there is great potential to develop technological solutions that can help coffee producers improve their work and increase productivity in the future,” he stated.
Luis Rodríguez, a young farmer and member of the Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar
Generational farming keeps some young coffee farmers in the industry by having connections to their land and a profound local knowledge. Other young farmers are taking their coffee farming knowledge to the next level through the use of engineering and technology. Luis talked about a few ideas involving the use of technology and agriculture, especially when faced with challenges involving climate change.
“There are many opportunities to introduce innovation into coffee farming. Climate change has become one of the biggest challenges facing coffee production with higher temperatures and longer periods of drought affecting crops. Because of this, I believe it would be valuable to develop affordable smart irrigation systems that small-scale coffee producers can use to better adapt to these changing conditions … Even small technological innovations can make a meaningful difference in farm management and encourage more young people to embrace technology in agriculture.”
Cultivating the Next Generation of Coffee Farmers
Today’s youth are eager to learn, grow, and create a future for themselves. Young farmers hold deeply ingrained knowledge of coffee cultivation and by supporting this technologically-savvy generation with access to resources, they have the ability to shape the future of coffee and the sustainability of their community. The roles of youth are transformative, as they always look for possibilities to build skills and co-create solutions. But, without proper access to knowledge, training, and opportunities within their local societies, young community members will feel frustrated and unable to reach their full potential.
At De La Gente, we envision a future where the next generation of youth and young coffee farmers embrace their involvement in the coffee value chain, serve as community leaders, and achieve economic independence. Encouraging workforce development in rural coffee growing and agriculturally-focused regions is incredibly important, especially in developing countries.
Through the involvement of cooperatives in Guatemala, ethical and stable employment opportunities in farming are created. In our partnership with coffee cooperatives, we recognize the roles of coffee producers as professionals and support them in obtaining sustainability on an economic and social standpoint. In furthering this impact, we uplift the roles of youth as young leaders in their communities such as with the Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar. We believe young generations are drivers of change who hold the power to shape the future of the specialty coffee industry in Guatemala.
The future of coffee can only be achieved through supporting these communities and youth by working together to overcome social and economic barriers. With this in mind, De La Gente offers grants for young farmers in Guatemala. Donations to our General Fund invests directly into training, providing funding, and building the skills and networks that empower young people to take the next step in their careers — supporting the growth of their economy and community.
members of the Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar
