Leaders of the Rainforest Alliance, the global non-profit landscape development and supply chains giant, and its stakeholders have called on partners to fortify regenerative coffee farming to cub climate change and biodiversity loses.
The call was made here in Addis at the organization’s Sustainability Day held with the theme ‘Brewing a Greener Future: Navigating Coffee Farming in a Changing Climate’ during the 20th African Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition and 1st African Coffee Week Our Addressing participants at the occasion, Director of Rainforest Alliance, South Africa Marla Naidoo recalled that the unpacking of major components of sustainability and discussing regenerative agriculture as well as integrated landscape approaches in the previous meeting, has set the stage for this year to delve further into a pertinent topic of navigating coffee farming in a changing climate.
The director underscored actors in the sector have faced a triple crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss and inequality and the day was organized to stimulate the dialogue on these critical issues in the midst of envisioning markets ploughing back more to people and nature than is taken.
“Climate change is impacting coffee production worldwide where we see reduced yields, increased pest and disease outbreaks, and diminishing areas where coffee once flourished. This has also resulted in significant social impacts including increased poverty, migration from rural areas and reduced human well-being,” Mr. Naidoo added.
One of the Board Members of the Rainforest Alliance Dr. Vanusia Nogueira on her part said the coffee developers and the farming community are experiencing challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss and this calls for a collective efforts and systematic approaches to build resilience.
Dr. Nogueira said that the Rainforest Alliance, is therefore, working with actors in various sectors to ensure the sustainability of coffee farming across the world. While officially opening the Sustainability Day, Director General of the Ethiopia Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) Dr. Adugna Debela, on his part explained that Climate change, market fluctuations, logistical disruptions, and regulatory requirements all pose risks to the resilience and viability of the coffee industry. He further said that it is crucial to recognize these formidable challenges the coffee industry faces worldwide.
Dr. Adugna indicated in Ethiopia there are 5 million staggering smallholders coffee farmers and they account 20 percent of the world coffee farmers. According to the Director General, during the 2022/23 crop season, about 7.7 million bags of coffee were produced and more than half of it was shipped to the international market generating a record revenue of US$1.3 billion.
“It is imperative that we collaboratively address the hurdles faced by the industry, fostering
innovative solutions, and implementing strategies that not only safeguard the livelihoods of
coffee farmers but also ensure the longevity and prosperity of the global coffee industry,” the
Director general expressed his conviction.
Coffee is Ethiopia’s most treasured commodity, both in its economic value and social importance, he underscored, and adding that Ethiopian coffee is also known for its unique characteristics, recognized by their origin, and often used as brands in the world coffee market.
Notably, regions such as Harar, Jimma, Kaffa, Nekempte, Limmu, Sidama, Teppi, Yirgachefe, and more, resonate deeply with coffee traders, roasters, and consumers. Rainforest alliance Country Representative Mr. Denu Lemma Tsegaye also told reporters that apart from certification the organization is making relentless efforts across the world to help communities mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis, protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities.
Mr. Denu indicated that Rainforest alliance adopts an agroecological approach, Regenerative Agriculture and effective soil management with all the protection of biodiversity loss and expanding ecosystem services.
“Certification is not the only activities of the Rainforest Alliance, rather, we are undertaking various nature-focused actions such as agroforestry and regenerative coffee farming across the Eastern Africa as well as bringing stakeholders like today and do advocacy works to realized a vibrant coffee farming communities,” the representative pointed out.
Rainforest Alliance is currently active in over 58 countries, working together with more than half
a million coffee farmers and other stakeholders. It partners and Work in collaboration with governments, civil society organizations and companies to drive positive change in some of the world's most critically important landscapes and global supply chains making responsible business the new norm.
The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal.