Education on altitude and coffee variety: Innovation and seedling development in nurseries

Abstract

This article analyzes the potential of integrating the high-altitude coffee (Coffea arabica) value chain as a pedagogical axis within the educational process of the Management and Entrepreneurship subject at the high school level in rural schools in the Mira River Basin, Ecuador. Using a qualitative and participatory methodology based on the systematization of experiences, this study identifies the opportunities and challenges of incorporating the coffee-growing approach into public high school entrepreneurship curricula.The results show that contextualizing school content with coffee production—from plant propagation in nurseries to the processing and marketing of high-altitude coffee with specialty varieties—strengthens young people's connection to their land, promotes meaningful learning, and enhances territorial identity.The study also highlights the importance of inter-institutional coordination and international cooperation within the educational process. The proposed contextualized curriculum includes tools such as the coffee value chain diagram and project-based learning activities relevant to the region. These are aimed at fostering viable agro-industrial ventures and strengthening the local economy. It is concluded that education based on the coffee value chain represents a transformative strategy that helps reduce youth migration and contributes to building sustainable and resilient rural communities.