Peru Renews 15,000 Hectares of Coffee Trees—But Faces Long Road Ahead

Peru’s coffee sector is grappling with a slow-moving crisis: trees infected by coffee leaf rust and those past their productive prime are dragging down national yields. Over 70% of the country’s 425,000 hectares of coffee farms—nearly 300,000 hectares—are either diseased or too old to produce quality beans. While progress has begun, the challenge remains immense.

Just 15,000 hectares—5% of the total area in need of renewal—have been replanted with new coffee tree varieties, according to Peru’s National Coffee Board. That leaves over 275,000 hectares still waiting for new roots.

Why Peru’s Coffee Trees Need Renewal

The National Coffee Board, led by President Anner Roman, reports that 290,000 hectares—70% of Peru’s total coffee-growing land—require replanting. Among these, 94,000 hectares have already been devastated by coffee leaf rust, a fungal disease that severely weakens trees and reduces yields. The remaining 196,000 hectares consist of aging coffee plants, many exceeding 15 years old, which have lost their productivity.

How Much Has Been Replanted So Far

Across Peru’s central, northern, and eastern rainforest regions, 15,000 hectares of coffee farms have been fully replanted with new coffee tree varieties. Of this renewed area, 8,000 hectares were funded directly by coffee growers and producer cooperatives. The other 7,000 hectares were financed through loans provided by Peru’s Agricultural Bank.

Government Goals and Current Progress

Peru’s government has set a target to replace 8,000 hectares of coffee trees over a four-year period, aiming to restore national production levels to those seen in 2011—a record year when the country produced 7.2 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee. So far, with only 15,000 hectares replanted, the country remains far from achieving even its four-year goal, let alone the full 290,000 hectares identified for renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hectares of coffee farms in Peru need to be renewed?

A total of 290,000 hectares of coffee farms in Peru need renewal, representing 70% of the country’s 425,000 hectares of coffee-growing land.

What’s causing the need for coffee tree renewal in Peru?

The main reasons are coffee leaf rust, a fungal disease that damages trees, and age—many coffee plants have exceeded 15 years and no longer produce effectively.

How much of the affected area has been replanted so far?

Only 15,000 hectares, or 5% of the 290,000 hectares in need, have been replanted with new coffee tree varieties.

Who funded the replanting of Peru’s coffee trees?

Of the 15,000 hectares replanted, 8,000 hectares were funded by coffee growers and cooperatives, while 7,000 hectares were financed via loans from Peru’s Agricultural Bank.

What is Peru’s coffee renewal target over the next four years?

The government aims to renew 8,000 hectares of coffee trees in four years, with the goal of returning to 2011’s record production level of 7.2 million 60-kilogram bags.

How much progress has Peru made toward its coffee renewal goal?

With 15,000 hectares replanted so far, Peru has surpassed its four-year target of 8,000 hectares—but the full target of 290,000 hectares remains distant.

FrontStreet Coffee Beans from Highland Peru

For coffee lovers following Peru’s renewal efforts, try FrontStreet Coffee’s single-origin Peruvian beans. These typically feature bright acidity, medium body, and notes of citrus, stone fruit, and delicate floral tones—classic profiles from high-altitude Peruvian farms. While not from the newly replanted areas, these beans reflect the potential of well-managed, healthy coffee trees. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.