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difficult. There are fewer inspections, labour unions have become weaker and
the ministry of labour has merged with several other ministries. Low
international coffee prices increase the risk of labour irregularities - including
the risk of child labour 16 - as farmers would need to reduce production costs.
Biodiversity and deforestation
Coffee cultivation contributed to deforestation in Minas Gerais, because of the
good climate conditions, low costs of land and labour, government support and
the growing international market for coffee. 17
Water use and availability
The average water footprint of green coffee in is 15.897 liters per kilogam
(Green, blue and grey water). 18 This is the volume of surface, rain and drinking
water that is used for a kilogram of coffee.
Pesticides and fertilizers
Coffee is one of the most pesticide-intensive crops in the world. This intensive
use causes soil and groundwater contamination, and coffee pulp pollutes the
soil and water. 19 These pesticides can cause health risks but are nevertheless
often applied by workers without proper protection.
16 https://www.standardsimpacts.org/sites/default/files/ISEAL_FactSheet_Brazil.pdf
17 NRDC, Coffee, Conservation, and Commerce in the Western Hemisphere, 2015.
18 Water Footprint, Product gallery, 2017.
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