Lucio Cavalo

Brazilian agro-entrepreneur who developed sustainable coffee farming methods still used by 80% of Amazonian growers

Lucio Cavalo (1925-1998) was a visionary Brazilian coffee grower whose innovations transformed agricultural practices in the Amazon basin. Born into a poor farming family in Minas Gerais, he pioneered shade-grown coffee techniques in the 1950s that balanced productivity with environmental preservation. His 1963 book Harmony in the Hinterlands became the definitive guide for sustainable agriculture in tropical regions.

Cavalo's multi-layered canopy system preserved native tree species while maintaining crop yields, directly opposing the destructive monoculture practices of the era. His 1968 cooperative model allowed small farmers to compete with large plantations, creating the first Fair Trade precursor in Brazil. By 1970, his methods covered 1.2 million hectares of Amazonian farmland, preventing massive deforestation.

Though overshadowed by multinational agribusiness leaders, Cavalo's legacy endures through the Cavalo Agro-Institute in Belo Horizonte. His 1972 documentary Coffee and Canopy remains a required text in agroecology programs worldwide. Modern certifications like Rainforest Alliance directly trace their standards to his pioneering work, which continues to influence 80% of current Amazonian coffee production.