This paper focuses on the feasibility of investment in production of arabica coffee in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, comparing conventional and organic systems, to identify which provides greater social and economic sustainability for family farmers. The methods of economic analysis used in the study were net present value, internal rate of return and payback period. The sensitivity analysis was also performed. It was demonstrated that both production systems were viable, but there was a large dependence on receiving the award for achieving organic farming, offsetting its lower productivity. Moreover, the price received was the variable with the greatest influence on the profitability of coffee farmers. The results led to the conclusion that provided the economic and ecological efficiency of the organic system, the challenge is to improve its technical efficiency to contribute to the socioeconomic sustainability of the family farmers.
Coffee production systems; family agriculture; economic analysis; sustainability
