Nago, Okinawa – A small farm in Okinawa Prefecture is challenging conventional wisdom about coffee cultivation. Tadaaki Miyagi, who runs Burikina, an organic coffee farm in Nago, discovered two years ago that his lot is, in fact, the world’s smallest coffee farm after registering with the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI).
A Unique Growing Environment
Miyagi, originally from Naha, cultivates approximately 300 coffee trees alongside shikuwasa citrus trees, banana trees providing shade, and dracaena plants used as windbreaks. This unique combination of flora contributes to the farm’s distinctive environment.
Breaking Barriers in Japanese Coffee Production
Burikina is among a select few farms in Japan to achieve the Q Grade, a certification awarded by the CQI. Ada Farm in Kunigami was the first in Okinawa to earn the distinction, followed by Burikina and Shirase Coffee Farm in Kumejima. Miyagi noted that the success of these farms demonstrates that high-quality coffee can be grown in Okinawa despite the region’s traditionally considered unfavorable conditions – low elevation and high latitude.
What’s Next?
The success of these Okinawan farms could inspire further experimentation with coffee cultivation in similarly challenging environments within Japan and beyond. More farmers may seek Q Grade certification, potentially leading to increased recognition of Japanese coffee on the global market. Further research into the specific growing conditions and techniques employed by these farms could also prove valuable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Q Grade?
The Q Grade is a credential awarded by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI).
Where is Burikina located?
Burikina is located in Nago, a city on the Motobu Peninsula in Okinawa Prefecture.
Which other farms in Okinawa have achieved the Q Grade?
Ada Farm in Kunigami and Shirase Coffee Farm in Kumejima have also earned the Q Grade.
As Okinawa’s coffee farms continue to defy expectations, what role might innovative agricultural practices play in expanding the possibilities for coffee production worldwide?
