A Bump in Sustainability: Climate Change's Effects on the Coca Plant Industry

Abstract

Latin American agriculture will experience changes in viability due to climate change. The coca plant remains one of the more tolerant crops amidst increasing risks of drought and rising temperatures, particularly compared to alternative cash crops such as the coffee plant. Coca, the primary constituent of the highly addictive nervous stimulant cocaine, is an illicit crop due to its relationship to drug markets. While often framed as a socially harmful crop, it also functions as a key economic adaptation strategy for farmers facing climate stress and declining viability of licit crops. Using a qualitative content analysis, existing literature was surveyed to determine how climate change shapes possible agricultural transitions and decision-making. The findings show that coca’s drought tolerance and adaptability make it more resilient than alternative crops, particularly coffee, which is highly vulnerable to changing climatic conditions. As a result, coca becomes an increasingly rational livelihood strategy. However, this stability coexists with risks of structural violence and criminalization. These findings highlight the need for long-term, sustainable and climate-adaptive agricultural policies that can offer livelihood stability comparable to coca.