Which type of farming organization typically produces the majority of the world's coffee supply?

The majority of the world's coffee supply is produced by smallholder farms. Smallholder farmers typically cultivate coffee on smaller plots of land, often less than two hectares, and are prevalent in many coffee-growing regions, particularly in developing countries. These farmers play a crucial role in the global coffee supply chain, contributing significantly to the overall volume of coffee produced. By focusing on quality as well as quantity, smallholder farms can often produce specialty coffee that meets international market demands.

While cooperatives also play a significant role, particularly in organizing smallholder farmers for better access to markets and resources, it is the individual smallholder farms that account for the majority of coffee production globally. Estates and exporters are involved in different aspects of the coffee supply chain, but they do not produce as much coffee as the smallholder farms do.