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UPC and Cafe LAHU: moving towards regenerative agriculture

10 minutes ago
2 min read

A new collaboration between Cafe LAHU and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) will bring together academic and local knowledge to assess water infrastructure, irrigation needs and agricultural diversification in Kanglaung. An important step in the transition from maize monoculture towards a more diverse, sustainable and resilient agroforestry model. .



Nasui on her plot of land


We are pleased to share a new step in Cafe LAHU’s journey towards a more sustainable and resilient future for the Lahu community of Kanglaung.



“Feasibility study for improving water infrastructure and agricultural diversification in the Lahu community of Kanglaung (Thailand). Phase I: land assessment and field measurements.”


The project was selected under the 34th Call for Grants for Development Cooperation Activities and awarded €2,195, primarily to cover travel expenses for the UPC field mission to Kanglaung.


The collaboration addresses two key challenges for Cafe LAHU’s long-term vision: water resilience and the transition from intensive maize cultivation towards a diversified agroforestry system based on fruit trees and, gradually, shade-grown coffee.


This first phase starts from a fundamental principle: understanding the land before proposing solutions.


Working alongside the Lahu community and Cafe LAHU, the UPC team will assess conditions on the ground, combining community knowledge with technical analysis. The work will include field measurements, soil and water analysis, an assessment of the existing water network and a study of local agricultural conditions.


The project has three main objectives:

  1. to strengthen collaboration with the Lahu community and local stakeholders

  2. to assess the transition from maize to fruit trees and coffee

  3. to analyse the existing water system and identify potential improvements


The first technical field visit is planned before the end of this year. During their stay in Kanglaung, the team will work with Cafe Lahu and the Lahu community to hold meetings, measure plots, collect soil samples, test water parameters and assess the water network and local agricultural conditions.


This first phase is expected to produce a participatory technical assessment that will inform practical recommendations for the next stages of the project: potential improvements to water infrastructure, a preliminary irrigation proposal and agronomic recommendations on suitable crops and varieties.


For Cafe LAHU, this collaboration represents a broader opportunity: connecting the Lahu community’s knowledge of the land, local experience, and academic and technical expertise to make better-informed decisions before making further investments and scaling up the project.


Regenerate first. Learn from the land. Move forward guided by evidence.

We warmly thank the UPC and its Centre for Development Cooperation for supporting this first phase, and the UPC team for accompanying Cafe Lahu on this journey.


The grant is part of the UPC’s 0.7% Campaign, which combines voluntary contributions from the university community with the institution’s own funding for development cooperation activities..



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