A field report on the <i>Clima y Café</i> initiative: an example of engaged scholarship through tailored climate adaptation communication

Clima y Café [Climate and Coffee] supports Colombian coffee farmers’ adaptation to climate change. The project finds and makes adaptation information available in accessible ways for farmers, while drawing attention to the crisis on a regional, national, and international scale. The website was built through iterative design testing with farmers and is targeted toward local associations that have internet access, are trusted information dissemination hubs, and are reported as central in conversations. Complementary forms of outreach redress internet connectivity challenges facing many farmers and include printed materials, radio segments, podcasts, WhatsApp videos, and in-person seminars. This field report reviews the project’s development since its origins in 2018, providing a potential blueprint for other engaged research projects promoting environmental and agricultural outcomes. The report moves chronologically through the project’s lifespan, beginning with the formative research that informed its design and moving through project development, external partnerships, leadership transitions, and change management.