The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Melissa Duncan, Fairtrade’s executive director and Dr. Éliane Ubalijoro, CIFOR-ICRAF’s CEO, solidifies their commitment to advance nature-based solutions into key supply chains such as coffee and cocoa. This will later be expanded to other product areas such as tea, banana, cotton, sugar, and nuts.

This five-year partnership will also foster future mutual endeavours on advocacy and policy influencing, and collaboration on exchanging and co-developing knowledge and expertise on priority thematic areas such as climate and the environment, deforestation, and decent livelihoods.

They will work side-by-side to support countries and supply chain stakeholders, particularly smallholder farmers, in implementing new legislation, which includes the EU Deforestation Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. In addition, they will also assist stakeholders in building up their climate resilience and transition to agroecology.

“Fairtrade found in the alliance with CIFOR-ICRAF great synergies as well as a shared commitment to facing the challenges of climate change and the biodiversity crisis,” said Duncan. “With this partnership we aim to accelerate agroecology transitions, scaling agroforestry systems, and building further climate resilience among Fairtrade producers and workers.”

“This memorandum of understanding represents a significant step forward in our shared commitment to advancing sustainable and equitable livelihoods for smallholder farmers and forest communities,” said Ubalijoro. “By aligning CIFOR-ICRAF’s scientific expertise with Fairtrade’s market-driven approach, we can create meaningful pathways to empower producers, enhance climate resilience, and support biodiversity conservation. Together, we are fostering a future where environmental sustainability and social equity go hand in hand.”

This year’s World Soil Day theme of “Caring for soils: Measure, monitor, manage” is perfectly aligned with the aim of this new strategic partnership to safeguard people and the planet. Indeed, for farmers, healthier and more fertile soils can result in higher incomes through more productivity, less reliance on external inputs, higher crop quality, and increased resilience to climate change. For the planet, enhanced soil health can increase carbon sequestration in soils as well as allowing lower emissions per product thanks to higher yields, both supporting climate change mitigation.

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For example, McCormick Place and show organizer, PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, worked with Dow, the official sustainability partner and the official sponsor of show floor recycling at PACK EXPO International (PEI), to minimize the environmental impact of the event and divert as much waste as possible from landfills.

One of the strongest components of all PACK EXPO exhibitions is roster of educational sessions, and this year was no exception. There were myriad sustainability-related educational presentations at the show, which tackled topics such as sustainable technology and materials innovations, the use of recycled content and renewable materials, transformation of waste, circularity, refill/reuse options, life cycle assessment, sustainable package design, reduction in emissions, extended producer responsibility, and data collection.

In the Plastics Sustainability Through Collaboration session, Patrick Krieger, vice president, sustainability at the Plastics Industry Association (PIA), discussed how the packaging industry is evolving to develop solutions that are more circular and sustainable and how the plastic packaging value chain is coming together to promote innovative products and programs that address industry needs. Krieger said that with regard to sustainability, the plastics industry is focusing on three main areas:

• Promoting a circular plastics economy
• Eliminating plastic in the environment
• Using resources responsibly.

One of the PIA’s newest programs is Operation Clean Sweep, which promotes zero plastic loss, that is, making sure no resin is lost during manufacturing.

In the Sustainability Central pavilion, Amazon – which stated it has reduced packaging per shipment by 41% since 2015 – presented the Elevating Packaging for E-Commerce to Boost Customer Experience session. Amazon executives discussed how to enhance the customer experience while protecting products and minimizing packaging waste. “Shoppers want less packaging, they want it to be recyclable, and they are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging,” said Kirsten Freiheit, head of North America partner engagement, sustainable packaging at Amazon. She shared that although shoppers want reduced packaging, e-commerce packaging needs more protection.

Heather Smith, senior business development manager, sustainable packaging at Amazon informed attendees how companies can improve customer satisfaction with packaging design, so “you can build excitement with the ‘unboxing experience’.” She added that branded packaging enhances customer experience.

The Paper & Packaging Board, which was exhibiting in the Sustainability Central pavilion, highlighted its new campaign to help promote carton recycling. P&PB executives, noting that 89% of consumers prefer paper-based shipping materials, explained that food and beverage cartons are made primarily out of responsibly-sourced paperboard, a renewable, plant-based material, and contain some of the highest quality fiber available in the recycling industry. P&PB’s new program wants companies to add the recycling logo to their carton packages to remind consumers to recycle their cartons. Carton recycling is available to more than 62% of US households and that number is growing every day. Recycled cartons become paper towels, tissues, office and writing paper, and sustainable building materials to name just few of the many products.

There were also a number of sessions dealing with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) or Packaging Producer Responsibility. EPR is a public policy mechanism that requires packaging producers (generally product brand owners) to help fund the recovery of their packaging. How funding is set, what the program goals are and who manages the system differs across the various states that have passed legislation. In 2025, many packaging policies relating to EPR will take effect. For example, California’s EPR law includes specific source reduction requirements for plastic packaging. Several other states are also now considering source reduction requirements though legislation: Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Washington.

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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The European Council raised concerns surrounding the no risk amendment to the EUDR, passed by the European Parliament in a vote on 14 November. The controversial amendment, which was provisionally dropped by the European leaders on 3 December, was proposed by the European People’s Party (EPP) at the time of the vote.

German MEP, Christine Schneider of the EPP, withdrew the party’s proposal to create the no risk status category under the EUDR on 2 December. “We promised and we have delivered. This postponement means businesses, foresters, farmers and authorities will have an additional year to prepare,” she said in a statement, adding, “An impact assessment and further simplification is to follow in the review stage for the low risk countries or regions providing countries with an incentive to improve their forest conservation practices.”

The EPP’s withdrawal follows the European Parliament’s vote to delay the EUDR by 12 months, which remains in effect. Companies will have one more year to adapt to new EU rules to prevent deforestation, which will ban the sale of products sourced from deforested land in the EU. A statement released by the European Parliament announced that on Tuesday evening (2 December), negotiators from the Parliament and Council reached a provisional political agreement to postpone the application of the new rules. Large operators and traders will now have to respect the obligations of this regulation as of 30 December 2025, and micro- and small enterprises from 30 June 2026. This additional time is intended to help companies around the world implement the rules more smoothly from the beginning, without undermining the objectives of the law.

The Commission proposed postponing the application date of the deforestation regulation by one year in response to concerns raised by EU member states, non-EU countries, traders and operators that they would not be able to fully comply with the rules if applied from the end of 2024.

Following requests from Parliament, The Commission committed to continue easing the burden on businesses by reducing administrative requirements and eliminating unnecessary bureaucratic burdens

In terms of next steps, the vote on the informal agreement between the co-legislators will be added to the agenda of Parliament’s next plenary session (16-19 December). In order for the postponement to enter into force, the agreed text has to be endorsed by both Parliament and Council and published in the EU Official Journal before the end of the year. — Vanessa L Facenda

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For many years Brazil’s annual harvests, particularly of Arabica beans, have had a significant influence on international coffee prices. Brazil’s sometimes rocky economic situation does have an effect on coffee bean harvests – and the results show up in overall production for various bean types, in organic production trends, and in the country’s total export volumes.

The 2023-2024 coffee harvest season in Brazil was marked by a significant increase in production compared with the previous year. This surge was primarily driven by favourable weather conditions and improved farming practices. Brazil’s total coffee production in 2024 exceeded that of 2023 by a substantial margin.

Brazil is renowned for its high-quality Arabica beans, which are prized for both their flavour profile and their aroma. However, the country also produces Robusta beans, a lowercost alternative, whose reputation has been improving over the last few years. The relative proportions of Arabica and Robusta in Brazil’s harvests do fluctuate from year to year, influenced by factors such as market demand and economic incentives.

In general, Arabica beans continue to dominate Brazil’s coffee production, accounting for asignificantly larger share of the total harvest. However, Robusta production has also shown growth in recent years, driven by increasing demand for lower-priced coffee options.

Organic coffee production has been gaining traction in Brazil, as consumers increasingly seek products that are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers. While organic coffee still represents a relatively small portion of Brazil’s total coffee output, it has experienced steady growth in recent years.

Several factors have contributed to the expansion of organic coffee production in Brazil. These include increased consumer awareness of the benefits of organic products, government support for organic agriculture, and the development of sustainable farming practices.
Brazil’s coffee products reach markets around the world. The volume of coffee exports from Brazil varies depending on the changing dynamics of global demand, competition from other producing countries, and worldwide economic conditions.

Brazil’s coffee bean harvests play a vital role in the global coffee market. The country’s production of high-quality Arabica beans, coupled with its increasing focus on organic coffee, has solidified its position as a leading exporter. Brazil has maintained its strong position due to strong demand for its beans from countries such as the United States, Europe and Japan. However, the country has also faced competition from other coffee-producing nations, particularly Vietnam and Colombia.

Several factors are influencing Brazil’s coffee production, including these four:
Weather: Climate conditions, such as rainfall and temperature, can significantly impact coffee yields. Excessive rainfall or droughts can negatively affect crop health and productivity.
Pests and diseases: Coffee plants, particularly, Arabica, are susceptible to various pests and diseases, which can reduce yields and quality. Effective pest control measures are essential for maintaining healthy crops.
Soil quality: The quality of the soil in coffee-growing regions is crucial for plant health and productivity. Poor soil conditions can limit crop yields and affect bean quality.
Economic factors: Economic factors, such as the price of coffee beans and the cost of production, can influence the profitability of coffee farming. Low coffee prices or rising production costs can discourage farmers from investing in coffee cultivation.

While weather, pests, soil quality, and economic conditions can influence coffee production, Brazil’s ability to adapt to changing market dynamics and invest in sustainable farming practices positions it well for continued success in the years to come.

The Impact of Climate Change
Coffee production is fragile, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports maintain that climate change will reduce worldwide yields on average and decrease land suitable for growing coffee by 2050.

Climate change is affecting Brazil’s coffee industry in ways which may, in the end, become detrimental to everyone – from the growers all the way downstream to those who consume their coffee.

“A Systematic Review on the Impacts of Climate Change on Coffee Agrosystems” is the January 2023 research article published in the prestigious PLANTS science journal. The six co-authors of this study reviewed 148 records from literature considering the effects of climate change and climate variability on coffee production, covering countries mostly from three continents (America, Africa, and Asia).

The main effects of climate change have been hotter temperatures and lower moisture, causing plants and cherries to not only be unable to fully flourish and bloom, but die while developing. Since the majority of Brazil’s coffee plantations are below 6,000 feet, they are being impacted in tangible ways by hotter temperatures.

Coffee plants need very specific temperatures, soil, and environments to grow in and continually produce coffee each year. With the rising temperature and lack of rainfall and humidity, coffee plants aren’t growing and reproducing as they usually would. Climate change has caused typical weather patterns to be inconsistent, making harvest times and crop quality nearly impossible to control and predict. Though rainfall is lacking for some growing regions, it’s happening more often for others, resulting in more harvesting and picking cycles, which is great.
However, this means higher labour costs than usual, making it harder on farmers.

The hotter temperatures have caused plants to lose several growing days in their usual harvest cycle. This is because heat can disturb a plant’s metabolism, driving stress in the plant and possibly reducing its photosynthetic efficiency. While hotter regions have caused harm to some growing regions, it has opened up new areas where coffee can be grown. With the increased temperatures, coffee can now grow at higher altitudes. Twenty years ago, coffee couldn’t grow in altitudes above 6,000 feet, but now, some of the best coffees are coming from these regions. However, the majority of coffee plantations are below 6,000 feet and are being impacted by the hotter temperatures. The main effects of climate change have been hotter temperatures and lower moisture, preventing plants and cherries from fully flourishing and blooming, but also dying while developing.

Climate change is a reason for the rapid spread of coffee leaf rust, a parasite that feeds off the leaves of the Arabica plant, and steals their food, causing the leaves to spot until they fall off and the plant dies. In the 1800s, this disease killed off most of the world’s coffee supply, and in 2012, another horrific outbreak resulted in over three billion dollars in damages. Coffee leaf rust can be controlled and contained by applying fungicides during wet seasons. However, it is only at higher altitudes and cooler temperatures that the disease struggles to reproduce and spread. This is still a very real problem that farmers face.

The Brazilian National Supply Company (CONAB) is a national government agency that manages agricultural policies and supply and provides information on Brazil’s agricultural harvest. In September of 2024, Conab lowered its forecast for 2024 Brazil’s coffee production: 54.79 million bags from 58.81 million as it forecast in May, due to the dry weather and extreme heat the crop experienced during its development phase.

This would put production down 0.5 percent from last year. Arabica production was lowered to 39.59 million bags from the previous forecast of 42.11 million. Conab’s forecast is up 1.7 percent from 2023 due to increased planted area. Yields were lowered, despite this being an ‘on year’ in the country’s biennial cycle.

Robusta production was forecast previously at 15.2 million bags, down from 16.71 million which had been the estimate in May and down six percent from a year ago. Brazil’s weather
conditions are not expected, but there could be a gradual increase in the number and frequency of showers as humidity starts to build for the rainy season. Greater rainfall is possible in the last days of September or early October. Until then, most
of the rain will remain too light to induce any flowering. ICE Arabica stocks are down to 837,656 bags, their lowest level since 4 September. The amount pending review is down to 6,081 bags, which is the lowest in more than six months.

UN FAO economist Fabio Palmeri shared his views about Brazil’s challenges and opportunities, “After negatively affecting the 2024 coffee output, prolonged dry weather conditions are raising concerns over the potential impact on the 2025 crop. In the first nine months of 2024, Brazil exported two million tonnes of coffee, 40 percent more than in the corresponding period last year, with export earnings reaching a record high of USD $8.5 billion, amid strong international demand. Arabica coffee remained the most exported variety. However, exports of Robusta and Conilon coffee surged in 2024, with shipments increasing by 170 percent compared to 2023, amid lower availabilities from Vietnam.”

Palmeri made a special note of the fact that coffee exports increased despite persistent logistics bottlenecks, including limited space at Brazilian ports coupled with greater demand for shipping containers.

Well Positioned for Continued Growth

In tabulating Brazil’s national coffee consumption data for the period from November 2022 to October 2023, the Brazilian Association of the Coffee Industry (ABIC) found that there had been an increase of 1.64 percent as compared to November 2021 to October 2022. This volume represents 39.4 percent of the 2023 harvest, which was 55.07 million bags, according to Conab. In the period from November 2021 to October 2022, the volume consumed inside Brazil represented 41.9 percent of the harvest, which was 50.9 million bags.

As the world shifts to low-carbon economic sectors and markets, Brazil’s rich ecosystems can enable it to discover some lasting growth opportunities created by that shift. Threequarters of Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions result from land-use change and agriculture. This implies that Brazil can and should make it a greater priority to halt spreading deforestation while transitioning towards low-carbon agriculture.

The scientific consensus is clear: Brazil’s rainforest in the Amazon is close to a tipping point, beyond which it cannot generate enough rainfall to sustain the national ecosystem. This is the power that fuelled Brazil’s growth: the agriculture, hydropower, water supply, industries. That same endangered ecosystem provides a full spectrum of environmental services to all of Latin America and the Caribbean as well as to the rest of the world.

Halting deforestation and scaling-up climatesmart land use can be done within Brazil’s agriculture sector while simultaneously increasing total productivity. It is entirely possible for Brazil to fully integrate agriculture, and other businesses, into the future green economy.

The post Brazil: Progress with Increased Coffee Production and Improved Sustainability appeared first on Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.

The declaration, signed by Melissa Duncan, executive director of Fairtrade International, and Jeroen Douglas, the Director General of ICA, has solidified the organisations’ commitment to work together to advance the principles of democracy, empowerment, economic prosperity and distribution, and the convergence of economic, social, and environmental components of development.

The announcement was made during ICA’s General Assembly held in New Delhi, India this week. Tone Cecilie Faugli, the CEO of Fairtrade Norway, together with Fairtrade Network of Asia & Pacific Producers CEO Erwin Novianto and Fairtrade certified cooperatives are participating in the event.

“We’re excited to launch this partnership with ICA as we embark on this shared opportunity to leverage our strengths and work together to build strong cooperatives that achieve better, fairer, and more dignified labour relations. Successful cooperatives are the lifeblood of Fairtrade and essential for sustainable global trade,” said Melissa Duncan, Fairtrade’s Executive Director.

“This declaration cements our joint efforts towards creating impactful change for cooperatives worldwide,” said Jeroen Douglas, Director General of ICA. “Together, ICA and Fairtrade International will drive forward initiatives that support cooperatives in their sustainable business case though fair pricing. Only a price tag on fair wages, clean water, gender inclusion and the pure air we breathe will transform our economy to the needs of communities.”

Fairtrade International and ICA, both EU Financial Framework Partnership Agencies, have had fruitful collaboration in the past on policy influencing, evidence gathering research, and the sharing of best practices focusing on the management of sustainable supply chains and people-centred business models. Advocacy work on cooperatives’ priorities include the EU Deforestation Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence directive. ICA and Fairtrade are also both members of the EU’s Global Gateway Dialogue Platform.

The partnership agreement will now facilitate closer co-operation between ICA and Fairtrade International on emerging areas of expertise needed, such as cooperative legal frameworks, agroecology, climate change, youth inclusion, gender equality, among others. It will contribute to strengthen both organisations’ work on promoting inclusive and sustainable cooperatives and their communities through wealth creation and redistribution, democracy, empowerment. It will also advance efforts towards an ever-increasing convergence between the economic, social, and environmental components of development.

Under the flagship of the UN International Year of Cooperatives, this partnership is expected to enable more cooperatives and their members to realise sustainable livelihoods, fulfil their potential, and decide on their future, given the growing risks and challenges they face.

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Brave Bean Coffee, a service-disabled veteran owned business, is excited to announce the launch of its e-commerce site, making its ethically sourced, premium coffee blends available to coffee lovers worldwide. This expansion allows Brave Bean to further its mission of giving back to those who have given so much.

• The First Responder
• Sergeant’s Sip Espresso
• Twilight Tonic

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With a delicious mixture of natural flavours from pure peppermint and decadent baker’s chocolate, Peppermint Mocha provides a refreshing burst of cool mint to melt away the stress of the season. The fair trade certified roast is made with organic robusta and arabica beans for a bold, balanced, and smooth cup of premium coffee.

“Following the success of our fall pumpkin chai blend, we knew our consumers wanted a flavour that would capture the essence of the holidays,” said Tom Ennis, president and CEO of Death Wish Coffee Co. “With a deeply delicious and refreshing taste free from artificial ingredients, we’re confident that Peppermint Mocha will quickly become a fan favourite and seasonal staple.”

Peppermint Mocha is available in 9 oz. ground bags and 10-count pods on www.deathwishcoffee.com, Amazon, and at major retailers nationwide, such as Sprouts, Publix, Wegmans, and Kroger, and in select Target and Albertsons stores.

In addition to its flavoured offerings, Death Wish Coffee Co. has an option for all coffee preferences with its core portfolio of medium, dark, espresso, and a recently released light roast. Death Wish Coffee Co.’s products adhere to rigorous standards that protect the environment and livelihoods of coffee farmers. For more information about Death Wish Coffee Co. and its full range of products, please visit www.deathwishcoffee.com, and follow the brand on Instagram @deathwishcoffee.

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The prize was awarded by an independent international jury of nine experts who chose the best among the winners of the 9 single-origins that make up the recipe of the unique illy blend: Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua and Rwanda.

The SMS Cluster ECOM of Nicaragua won the Coffee Lovers’ Choice award, voted for by consumers around the world who in the weeks leading up to the event blindly tasted the same samples in illy coffees.

“For the second year in a row, a Brazilian company that adopts regenerative practices has given us the best coffee in the world. In the Fazenda Serra do Boné, the health of the soil, biodiversity, and water sources are preserved thanks to the use of organic fertilizers, biological control and the reuse of processing by-products,” said Andrea Illy, chairman of illycaffè. “We are once again noticing important signs that confirm how regenerative agriculture is the right path towards a more resilient production capable of guaranteeing productivity and superior quality, of which coffee is the forerunner with the highest growth rates.”

The panel of judges who selected the Best of the Best included Massimo Bottura, chef patron of Osteria Francescana and founder of Food for Soul; Viki Geunes, chef-owner of three-Michelin-starred Zilte in Antwerp; Felipe Rodriguez, head chef at São Paulo’s Rosewood Complex; Vanúsia Nogueira, executive director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO); Q Grader professional tasters Felipe Isaza and Dessalegn Oljirra Gemeda; journalists Vanessa Zocchetti (Madame Figaro), Sebastian Späth (Falstaff), and Josh Condon (Robb Report).

The jury described Fazenda Serra do Boné’s award-winning coffee as creamy, sweet, and full-bodied, with an elegant balance of fresh fruit aromas, caramel undertones, subtle hints of brown sugar, and a persistent chocolate finish with floral notes of jasmine – a beautifully complex coffee that perfectly embodies its Brazilian origin.

This year’s event attracted a diverse group of public figures, including Francis Ford Coppola, Marina Abramović, Pat Cleveland, Alex Riviere, Chiara Maci, Candela Pelizza, Tamu McPherson, Sveva Alviti, Christoph Leitner, Simon e Marina Ksandr, Nick Lowry, Maddy Devita, Justine Martilotti, and Brittany Leigh Ball. The celebration of coffee excellence took place at a gala dinner at Peak in Hudson Yards, hosted by Spanish TV journalist Olivia Frejus Lloyd.

Beyond awards, the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award fosters global discussions on coffee sustainability. The day began at the United Nations headquarters in New York where representatives from across the coffee supply chain gathered for a roundtable discussion titled “Global Coffee Alliance: Mobilizing a Public-Private Fund to Fight Climate Change.” The panel, moderated by Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, featured chairman Andrea Illy, Italian Ambassador to the UN, Maurizio Massari; executive director of the ICO, Vanúsia Nogueira; chef and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, Massimo Bottura; UNIDO project manager, Andrea De Marco; senior director of sustainable coffee at Conservation International, Raina Lang; and UNEP director for the New York office, Jamil Ahmad; who explored initiatives to advance sustainable coffee production in the face of climate challenges.

The panel emphasised the urgent need to transition coffee cultivation to a regenerative model to enhance resilience, improve farmer livelihoods, and reduce environmental impact. A major focus was on establishing a USD $10 billion public-private fund over the next decade, which will target smallholder coffee farmers in tropical regions heavily impacted by climate change.

“Since Expo 2015, we have worked tirelessly to build a framework to protect coffee for generations to come,” said Andrea Illy. “Regenerative agriculture has shown it can produce high yields and quality while restoring natural resources. We must act quickly to scale these solutions globally through an international fund. It is essential we implement regenerative solutions now, as we see they work and deliver positive outcomes.”

Throughout the discussion, panelists underscored the importance of uniting stakeholders from governments, international organisations, and the private sector to bring impactful, lasting change to coffee-growing communities. Reichenbach highlighted that consumer awareness and participation are key drivers in the industry’s sustainability journey.

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Following a vote on 14 November in Brussels, Belgium, the European Parliament confirmed to delay implementing the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) –a plan that was already endorsed by the Council of Ministers – until December 2025.

Adopted on 19 April 2023 and initially due to be enforced on 30 December 2024, the EUDR proposes to ban the export of products associated with deforestation, such as coffee beans, cocoa beans, soya, cattle, rubber, palm oil, and wood. The law also applies to European farmers.

Third countries, member states, operators and traders will have more time to prepare for the due diligence obligations imposed by the EUDR. Large operators and traders would have to adhere to the requirements stemming from the EUDR as of 30 December 2025, whereas micro- and small enterprises would have until 30 June 2026. In a statement released by the European Parliament, “this additional time would help operators around the world to implement the rules smoothly from the start without undermining the objectives of the law.”

Parliament also adopted other amendments proposed by the political groups such as the European People’s Party (EPP), including the creation of a new category of countries posing “no risk” on deforestation in addition to the existing three categories of “low”, “standard” and “high” risk. Countries classified as “no risk”, defined as countries with stable or increasing forest area development, would face significantly less stringent requirements as there is a negligible or non-existent risk of deforestation. The Commission will have to finalise a country-benchmarking system by 30 June 2025.

Multiple proponents of the EUDR have called out the move. In a statement on LinkedIn, Rainforest Alliance said the no-risk category would be “a death sentence to the EUDR.”

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued a statement saying, “The European Parliament, driven by the European People’s Party (EPP), voted for amendments to substantially weaken the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) de facto deregulating and undermining one of the EU’s landmark environmental laws. By introducing a category of “no risk” countries, the EPP and its allies have effectively voted to enable further forest destruction both within and outside of Europe. The move undermines the efforts of forward-thinking companies that have invested in deforestation-free supply chains to comply with EUDR requirements in time for its application on 30 December 2024.”

Parliament is now referring this file back to committee for interinstitutional negotiations. In order for these changes to enter into force, the agreed text will have to be endorsed by both Council and Parliament and published in the EU Official Journal.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 420 million hectares of forest – an area larger than the EU – were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020. EU consumption represents around 10% of global deforestation. Palm oil and soya beans account for more than two-thirds of this. — Vanessa L Facenda

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PACK EXPO International organiser, PMMI (The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies) announced that the show featured 2,700 exhibitors providing solutions in more than 40 vertical markets and welcomed 48,000 attendees. 

Amid continuing global economic pressures, PMMI reported that the packaging machinery industry has shown resilience and adaptability. According to its newly released State of the Industry: US Packaging Machinery report, which Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, market develop at PMMI, discussed at the Media Briefing during the show, the US packaging machinery market is projected to reach USD $11.1 billion in 2024, driven by automation and sustainability. Industry growth is expected to peak in 2027, with a continued focus on innovative solutions to meet evolving consumer and regulatory demands. 

According to the report, growth for the first half of 2024 was bolstered by the “clearing of remaining backlogs from the pandemic, the continued adoption of automated solutions, and the increasing demand for new machines to accommodate new packaging styles.” However, as the year continued, backlogs largely dried up as new orders slowed. The softened demand resulted in lower growth for the year overall, with a growth of 5.8%, reaching a value of USD $10.9 billion of new machines shipped, per the report. 

The lighter demand for new machinery continued into 2024. The report reveals that the packaging machinery sector is expected to experience its slowest growth year compared to the last three years in the industry. PMMI noted that the Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates high and the uncertainty surrounding the US election contributed to the slowdown. 

PMMI expects sales of new machinery to begin rising again in the second half of 2024 “as the wait-and-see mentality dissipates.” Furthermore, PMMI believes that there will likely be more requests for end-of-line automation as many companies continue to struggle with retaining labour for production lines. Growth is expected to peak again in 2027, “in line with the three-year peak-to-trough cycle that we have come to expect in this market.” 

The report finds that the beverage industry proved resilient with a steady demand for drinks of all kinds. Recent trends include diversification of drink sizes — as evidenced by the displays at many exhibitor’s booths at the show, such as Tetra Pak, whose ready-to-drink packaging sizes ranged from 200ml to 1000ml.

Sustainability is one of the most significant topics in the packaging industry today. And while the US has less stringent regulations compared to the EU, major players are increasingly shifting towards more sustainable packaging solutions. The PMMI report reveals that many companies are moving away from single-use plastics (SUPs) in favour of paperboard and other eco-friendly materials. This trend is driven by both regulatory pressure and of course, consumer demand for greener alternatives. 

In addition to Tetra Pak’s aseptic paperboard, aluminum, and polyethylene packaging, Graphic Packaging was showcasing its Boardio packaging. Boardio is a fiber-based canister that can be tailored from low to high barrier protection, making it suitable for different applications. Folgers debuted its 1850 coffee brand in Boardio packaging in Walmart and Costco stores earlier this year, and both Walmart and Target rolled out their store-branded coffees in Boardio packaging in September and October. 

A significant trend to watch is the shift in packaging materials, with glass and cans gaining popularity as the industry seeks more alternatives to plastic. However, aluminum is also growing in popularity given that it is infinitely recyclable. GEA Processing was showcasing its new Uni Bloc Flex aseptic filling machine, which is a bottle sterilizer, rinser, filler and capper all in one as there has been a movement toward consolidation of machines within the filling and packaging sector. 

Tucker Scofield, packaging sales manager, liquids and powders, noted that GEA’s machine is the only one on the market doing aseptic aluminum. “It’s not a new technology –it’s been around for 25 years – but it’s new for aluminum bottles,” he said. “Aseptic is really becoming popular now because technology is making it easier to do.” Scofield added that there has been a lot of interest from coffee, tea and water brands. The Uni Bloc Flex can also fill glass and PET bottles. 

 New packaging regulations coming to the US was also a major topic of discussion, but I’ll save that for a future blog. 

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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New Dawn Traders began in 2012, with the opportunity to sail aboard the Irene of Bridgewater to transport olive oil from Portugal to Brazil. Despite this being a failed mission, this voyage opened the door to future success.

With the cost of living rising, and supermarkets dominating supply chains with “cheap” options, it’s easy to think the idea of transporting coffee and produce by sail cargo is an unrealistic one. However, over the past 12 years, consumer demands have shifted dramatically, and many businesses now place sustainability at the heart of their operations.

Creating a more sustainable and ethical supply chain is proving its worth against all odds. The Vermont Sail Freight Project, the Sail Transport Network in the United States, the Greenheart Project in Fiji, TOWT in France, Holland’s Fairtransport, and B9 Shipping are just a few of the pioneering initiatives in sail cargo.

The focus is on British, Irish, and Dutch shores, where independent coffee roasters such as Farm Hand Coffee, based in Dublin, and Yallah Coffee, based in Cornwall, have teamed up with sailors to connect communities on both sides of the Atlantic.

It’s not every morning — or even throughout the day — that we think about the impact of our cup of coffee. But in my opinion, it would be quite mind-blowing to open my coffee jar every day and know that it had travelled thousands of nautical miles to reach me.

When spending company funds with large multinational corporations, local communities and farmers certainly miss out on the economic benefits.

As a final consumer, or as a business, it’s impossible not to feel much more connected to the process and the people behind the product when coffee, tea, or any other commodity is shipped by sail. After all, our coffee only reaches us thanks to a crew going with the wind.

• Inês Coutinho, digital editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: ines@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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Key Highlights and Award Winners

Taiwan was the standout region of 2024, winning the highest number of awards overall with eight Gold and 10 Highly Commended winning teas. Taiwanese teas proved their excellence in various categories, with LuYu Tea Garden taking home the highly coveted Best in Black award for their exceptional black tea, which wowed judges with its depth and balanced flavour.

Japan once again took centre stage with Yame Tea Kumaen earning the prestigious Best in Show title for the second year. Their matcha saemidori astonished the judges with its sweet and creamy flavour and long-lasting smoothness. Japanese teas earned 16 Awards in total, including six Gold and 10 Highly Commended. Notably, Teaste it, an Italian-Japanese tea company, impressed the judges with their innovative Moka-cha, a matcha prepared in a traditional coffee moka pot.

Islington-based Japanese tea retailer Katsute claimed the most awards for any single retailer, receiving accolades for their premium matcha, gyokuro, and genmaicha teas. In India, Jay Shree Tea won the most awards of any single company. They were recognised with two Gold awards, including one for their experimental Steamed and Panned Darjeeling, along with three Highly Commended teas. Sri Lanka also earned seven awards overall, with high quality Ceylon teas demonstrating the region’s continued excellence in the global tea market.

China contributed some standout teas including Sichuan Emei-shan Zhuyeqing Tea’s scented jasmine, which was recognized not only for its superb quality but also for its artistry in tea making. Sichuan Emei-shan Zhuyeqing Tea was also honoured with The Leafies Pioneer Special Award for their impressive contributions to the industry. The Nepali tea community was also recognized this year, with Sandakphu and Nepal Tea Collective both winning Gold awards for their exceptional teas, highlighting Nepal’s growing prominence in the global tea industry.

New Categories and Innovative Teas

For the first time, The Leafies introduced a “Fruit and Herbal Infusions” category, which saw two extraordinary entries from Quinta de Soalheiro of Portugal. Their Lemon Verbena and Chocolate Mint infusions received glowing praise from the judging panel.

This year also marked significant recognition for retailers, with products like Birchall’s Great Rift Breakfast Blend and Copenhagen Sparkling Tea’s Jasmine, Darjeeling, Chamomile tea winning awards.

Commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact

An ongoing commitment from The Leafies to celebrate trail blazing tea companies in areas such as environmental stewardship, community empowerment, innovation and education is represented through a selection of special awards,with winners including the women-owned cooperative Kazi Yetuin Tanzania and Kaley Tea in Sri Lanka for its impressive sustainability initiatives.

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After hitting a 50-year low in production in 2021/22,Costa Rica’s coffee output has been rebounding. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Service estimates total production of approximately 1.44 million 60-kilogram bags of green coffee in 2023/24, which is up over 15 percent from two years ago. This increase is attributed to better plant management, positive initial flowering, and stabilised fertiliser costs.

Costa Rican producers have been actively innovating for the global specialty coffee market. For example, producers are responding to a trend towards increased product differentiation through microlots, which allow them to capture higher sales prices. The number
of coffee mills has increased from 184 in 2011/12 to 304 in 2021/22,with many new micro-mills
servicing small groups of farms.

Despite production increases, the number of coffee growers in Costa Rica continues to decline. As of 2021/22 (the most recent dataset), there were 26,704 farmers, down nearly 50 percent from 10 years earlier. Factors contributing to this decline include long periods of low coffee prices, aging farmers, and high land prices near urban areas.

The industry faces ongoing challenges with labour supply, particularly for harvesting. Most of the coffee harvest depends on large numbers of temporary foreign workers from Nicaragua and Panama. There have been concerns about changing immigration flows affecting labour availability.

Costa Rica’s economy is increasingly shifting towards services, with the tourism, pharmaceutical, and IT sectors growing rapidly. This economic diversification is providing more attractive employment options for the children of coffee farmers, potentially further impacting the future labour supply for coffee production.

The local Costa Rican currency’s depreciation has also negatively impacted the coffee industry.
The exchange rate has reached its lowest point in 14 years, reducing the competitiveness of Costa
Rican coffee on the international market and causing significant financial losses for exporters and mills.

Improving Resilience
Despite challenges, Costa Rica maintains its reputation for high-quality coffee. The country continues to participate in prestigious events like the Cup of Excellence, with some producers making it to the 2023 finals.

Climate change is threatening coffee-growing areas in Costa Rica, specifically the Coto Brus region. By 2050, absent adaptation measures, experts at the World Resources Institute (WRI) in Washington, DC maintain that climate change “will reduce the global areas suitable for growing coffee by about 50 percent.” An WRI study outlined key findings from this region, including some of the main challenges facing the coffee sector. It also examined existing factors that present opportunities to enhance climate resilience. The study recommends actions that can be taken to improve the sector’s climate resilience and long-term sustainability.
During the course of their research, the WRI’s team of researchers conducted a literature review, interviews, a workshop and field visits with coffee farmers, government ministries, funders, and other stakeholders.
Despite the study’s local focus, the lessons and experiences shared are relevant for other coffee-growing regions and countries: Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Uganda, among others. These are the places where coffee producers are facing some of the harshest the effects of climate
change, and the researchers hope that it will serve as a tool and inspiration for accelerating adaptation action.

Despite the benefits of medium- and long term planning to accomplish the large-scale transformative changes, WRI’s experts concluded that the coffee sector will need to adapt to intensifying climate impacts. However, they found that most producers are integrating smaller, short-term, incremental adjustments that might not be sufficient in the long term.

WRI developed a program to assist Costa Rica’s government as it mapped out short-term, medium-term, and long-term adaptation pathways that are inclusive, equitable, and participatory. WRI developed a framework which underscores that, in some situations and locations, incremental adaptation measures will prove insufficient in the years to come to fully reduce growing risks from climate change impacts. In these situations, more fundamental, or transformative, changes – which may entail creating pathways toward new systems more suitable for changing climate conditions – will be needed to maintain the communities’ livelihoods in the long term. Such changes will often include shifting the mix of crops grown
and livestock raised in particular areas, employing substantially new technology at broad scale, and/or altering the production landscape from one type to another. The first year of WRI’s technical assistance
effort focused on stakeholder engagement, research, and in-country discussions via workshops to introduce the concept of transformative adaptation and establish a dialogue on climate adaptation, vulnerabilities, and impacts. These discussions were held with coffee producers, cooperatives, ministry
officials, research organisations, financing entities, and the private sector, among others.

Findings from these conversations are being used to inform the drafting of a national coffee strategy.
The focus of the second year of the project focused on the lessons learned from the coffee growing region of Coto Brus to better inform, guide, and finance climate resilience efforts for these communities, while extracting insights for other coffee-growing regions in the country.

Reviving Production in Coto Brus

The Coto Brus district, located in the Brunca region, is one of the country’s eight coffee growing areas identified by the Coffee Institute of Costa Rica (Instituto del Café de Costa Rica; ICAFE) and one of the smallest contributors to national production. Coto Brus was chosen by government counterparts in response to smallholder farmers’ requests for support and because this area has been experiencing a rapid decline in coffee production and is highly vulnerable to climate change. In the second year,
WRI conducted literature reviews, expert interviews, farm visits, and a full-day workshop in Coto Brus with key stakeholders.

By 2050,absent adaptation measures, up to half of the areas currently suitable for coffee cultivation in Coto Brus is predicted to become unsuitable across both low and high emissions
pathways scenarios. (For more details, consult the various research reports and studies published by Oriana Ovalle Rivera of the CATIE – Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza – which is located in Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica.) Central areas are projected to be more adversely affected while a few locations are projected to see an increase in suitability.

Efforts to increase Coto Brus coffee farmers’ resilience by addressing the most immediate climate change impacts have begun. However, few farmers incorporate adaptation into their planning and huge implementation gaps persist, despite a broad awareness of sustainable practices. According to interviewees, some farmers are further behind than others — especially smallholders with more limited
resources. Despite the benefits of medium-term and longer-term planning to accomplish the large
scale transformative changes the coffee sector will need to adapt to intensifying climate impacts, most producers and the sector are integrating smaller, shorter-term, incremental adjustments that might not be sufficient in the longer-term.

WRI’s study identified key recommendations to increase the short-term, medium-term, and long-term climate resilience of the coffee sector. The recommendations include:
• Promote adaptation options identified by local stakeholders, provide regular technical follow up, and support farmers in exploring additional medium-term and longer-term measures.
• Establish baselines and monitor the impacts of adaptation measures. Building the evidence of farms’ vulnerabilities while tracking the results of adaptation efforts can help maximise the allocation of limited resources over the short, medium, and long terms and inform where and when transformative pathways will be needed. Transformative pathways are coordinated sequences of short to-long-term actions or projects intended to prepare agricultural systems for unprecedented climate conditions.
• Map when and where coffee is likely to lose viability in the coming decades and explore transformative and equitable pathways toward climate resilience, with stakeholder participation (particularly relevant for MAG, ICAFE, and MINAE). At-risk farmers should be supported to experiment with different crops,
technologies, and even livelihoods like eco tourism that will serve them better over the longer term.
• Reinforce existing institutions and enabling factors to increase the uptake of adaptation measures and build greater resilience in Coto Brus. These include strengthening farmer associations and cooperatives, as well as farmer-to-farmer learning; promoting more strategic cross-sectoral alliances; and strengthening support for programs focused on sustainable practices.
• Develop farmer-tailored skills trainings and guidance to build farmers’ capacities to manage costs and access credit and financing, so they can more easily invest in adaptation measures.
• Create open communication channels within public and private entities to bridge crucial information flow gaps around climate risks, existing vulnerabilities, and options to support the implementation of adaptationmeasures. Providing producers with clear, complete, and practical information on different financing options is also essential.

• Gordon Feller, based in California, travels the world reporting about innovations that can change our economies and strengthen small enterprises. Since 1980 he’s been publishing
  reports and magazine articles about coffee/tea innovations on five continents. He is both an ABE Fellow – Japan Fdn and Global Fellow – The Smithsonian

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The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has approved Finlays’ near and long-term science-based emissions reductions targets, including its net-zero science-based target by 2040. This ensures Finlays’ emission reduction targets are in line with limiting global warming to 1.5°, helping prevent the worst impacts of climate change.

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Why This Matters, and Why Now
The contemporary agri-food sector faces a profound challenge that threatens the socio-economic stability of smallholder farmers worldwide: the pervasive inability to secure a living income. This issue stems from multiple factors, including limited arable land, suboptimal agricultural productivity, and inequitable value distribution within supply chains. As global commodity prices fluctuate, smallholder farmers remain vulnerable, often unable to influence market trends or earn a fair share for their products.

Amid these challenges, the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) marks a critical juncture for international supply chains, mandating higher social responsibility standards for commodity buyers. This regulation offers a unique opportunity to create a level playing field, benefiting all producing countries equally. The white paper’s release is timely, aiming to harness this regulatory shift to drive significant, data-informed changes across global supply chains.

Introducing the White Paper
The Commodity Living Income Strategy is a data-first intervention aimed at achieving living incomes in commodity supply chains. It is founded on principles of fair value distribution and data-driven decision-making, advocating for a two-pronged intervention approach: first, assisting producers, organized producer groups, and their supply chain partners in understanding their cost-efficiencies and living income price gaps; second, it leverages this data to design holistic intervention strategies tailored to local sustainability, production, and quality needs.

This white paper introduces two key methodologies:
1. Living Income Price (LIP): The LIP calculates the price per unit of a commodity based on its actual production costs across various supply chain stages (farmgate, producer organizations or “cooperatives”, and Free on Board. This approach helps establish a minimum viable price floor, ensuring that producers are compensated fairly for their sustainable and efficient production efforts.
2. Cost-Yield Efficiency (CYE): This CYE categorizes producers’ efficiency by considering both their costs and yields. It provides a nuanced understanding of efficiency levels among farmers, identifying areas for improvement and forming the basis for tailored intervention strategies.

The strategy presented within this white paper encapsulates both methodologies, providing a structured approach to understand both productivity and efficiency aspects of pricing, and identify the necessary interventions to bridge living income gaps. It addresses the critical question: Where is this supply chain currently, and how far do we need to go to achieve sustainability? Moreover, it promotes data-driven, defensible decision-making involving both efficiency and pricing interventions, strategically co-created with supply chain stakeholders, and, most crucially, with farmers themselves.

“By leveraging real, verifiable data, and investing in both efficiency and pricing interventions, we can set a new standard for transparency and accountability in global supply chains,” said Antoinette Marie, director of Heifer Labs, a digital technology unit within Heifer International.

Commitment to Transparency and Open-Source
By making the parameters and tools publicly accessible and open-source, Heifer and Fairfood aim to inspire industry-wide change. This transparency is designed to foster a community of informed stakeholders, enhancing dialogue and collaboration across the supply chain. The Open-Source Toolkit previewed in the White Paper will provide practical resources for implementing LIP and CYE methodologies, driving sustainable practices, and ensuring that all stakeholders can contribute to and benefit from these innovations. “This is not just about compliance or corporate responsibility,” said Sander de Jong, managing director of Fairfood International. “It’s about recognizing the human side of supply chains and committing to a future where every farmer can live with dignity.”

Download the white paper here.

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PRESS Coffee, the Phoenix-based specialty coffee roaster has announced the acquisition of a Panama coffee estate. Since its establishment in 2008, the PRESS Coffee team has been committed to sourcing and serving the highest quality specialty coffee. With this addition, the coffee roaster will truly be fulfilling the farm-to-cup path and sourcing beans from origin.

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“The production environments are changing so fast that what we do today is not going to work 30 years from now,” said Hannah Neuschwander, director of communications and strategy, World Coffee Research (WCR). “So, you must have a pipeline that is continuously responding to those changes; the way of doing things in the past where the breeding program dissolves after you get one or three good varieties is no longer going to work.”

By 2030 ,WCR will release 100 new varieties. Currently, there are 119 registered varieties, including Arabica and Canephora varietals. However, there is the capacity to release an additional 100 every three years. “We are continuously taking the best and ditching the worst,” said Jennifer (Vern) Long, CEO of World Coffee Research. The pipeline that we have now activated includes nine government partners. It is going to change the narrative completely.” World Coffee Research has recently introduced speed breeding to allow farmers to add seeds instead of seedlings to their production, significantly reducing transportation challenges that some of the farmers faced with hybrids. The method of speed breeding accelerates the seed cycle, tweaking environmental factors, such as water, light, and temperature, to get a plant that flowers as soon as possible. “We will be releasing 100 candidates
in 2030 that will be available for trialling,” said Long. The intent is to provide farmers with several options to help determine which varietal they want for their production.

Dr Steffen Schwarz, director and founder of Coffee Consulate in Germany, is a passionate collector of coffee species and varietals. Currently, he has over 320 different varieties, from several species of coffee, that he cultivates with colleagues and over 120 in a living collection in a greenhouse in Germany. When exploring coffee, Dr Schwarz stressed the importance of understanding both the industry’s challenges and potential, which includes looking into the possibility of integrating a variety of coffee species into commercial production.

“The challenge we have, which impacts all agricultural crops, is climate change,” said Dr Schwarz. “Anything we’re using now has been adapted to other situations.” In coffee, most of the discussion about resiliency is centred on Arabica. However, he stressed that the coffee industry must also consider the challenges that Canephora faces. “Canephora has 90 percent of its roots in 30 centimetres of the soil, which means it’s super narrow, and if there’s a drought, there is no reservoir that Canephora can connect to.”

The changing climate impacts the microbiome and nutrients in the soil. The different environmental conditions, whether wet, dry, hotter or cooler, change which plants can live in that space. “Plants are not simple organisms. They have an active transport that goes by the microbes and bacteria that move into
it and carry the substances and nutrients into the plant,” Dr Schwarz explained, stressing that by investing the time to understand the various species, and in particular the root system of these plants, the industry can learn both about the resiliency of the plant, while also gaining insight into the flavour profile.

He pointed out that Canephora has a much more narrow, aromatic feel than the Arabica, whose roots go much deeper. “And Liberica’s roots go even deeper, which is why it comes out with wild notes that are incredible, but because it has so much sugar, it ferments,” shared Schwarz, adding, “so if you don’t control it after harvest, ideally within 30 minutes from picking, then you may end up with a coffee that has these strange wild flavours that are due to the uncontrolled fermentation.”

Root research can deepen the understanding of the various coffee species themselves and bring to
light the potential of bringing two species of coffee together through grafting. “One of the reasons we’re interested in root research is we see some really positive benefits from grafting Arabica and Robusta onto Excelsa because of its extensive root system,” said Aaron Davis, senior research leader, Crops and Global Change, Kew Gardens, Sussex, United Kingdom. “If you can swallow the costs of doing it, then grafting could be a viable and useful option for many farmers.”

Digging into Wild Species: Liberica, Stenophylla and Excelsa

Challenges with Robusta and Arabica crops, including pests, disease, and overall resiliency, have resulted in other countries looking at alternative species, specifically Excelsa and Liberica, both of which were planted as border crops to draw out pests. When coffee wilt devastated the Robusta plants in Uganda, shared Davis, the farmers discovered that the Excelsa species were resistant. In India, farmers also found that Excelsa appeared to survive drought episodes. There are several trial plots of Excelsa in Uganda, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, and India. “They needed something that is going to be viable, particularly when they’ve witnessed the drought episodes in Uganda in the last couple of years,” said Davis. “Farmers recognised that these species could help bridge production volumes.”

Excelsa’s growth has been rapid, with Davis’s team working with approximately 250 farms. In Uganda, an additional 100 farms, including cooperatives, are either growing or inquiring about acquiring Excelsa, and the government supports these investments. In South Sudan, approximately 1000 hectares are dedicated to growing Excelsa.

“People are flipping the script when it comes to Excelsa, shifting it from a cheap filler to a priced commodity with the potential of becoming a specialty coffee,” said Michael Mazzotta, co-founder, Excelsa Coffee, San Diego, California. “It’s finally getting the image that it deserves.”

Excelsa Coffee’s online shop, which launched earlier this year, immediately garnered consumer interest and quickly sold out the product. However, it has also resulted in several Excelsa producers from across the globe reaching out, hoping to export their products to America. “One of our biggest challenges is simply lack of consumer awareness and understanding,” said Olin Patterson, co-founder, Excelsa Coffee. “We’ll keep networking, having events and drinking Excelsa every day. We love it, but the reality is it will take several years for the market to understand that there are nuances in coffee.”

Excelsa Coffee can be purchased through several online channels in the United States, including Amazon, Walmart, and social media platforms, with plans to open its retail shop in early 2025. Patterson and Mazzotta are also working with producers in Central America and South Sudan and researchers at UC Davis and the University of Florida to deepen their understanding of Excelsa and its potential as a commercial product.

“Coffee is a very sophisticated field, with so many different varieties, said Dr Carmen Ablan Lagman, researcher and professor at De La Salle University, Manilla, Philippines. “But we are focusing on one group, Arabica, because that’s the high value item.

“Lagman stressed that Liberica, with its unique flavour profile, has the potential of moving into the specialty sector. “What we have to do now is convince [producers] that quality is very important,” said Lagman. “It’s difficult to get from normal to specialty, but then the ROI from that is a huge difference.”

Today, there are at least three substantial producers of Liberica in Malaysia, with production expanding
in the Philippines and India. “In the Philippines, we are not up against coffee versus some other plant or product; we’re talking about coffee versus subdivision or store fronts,” said Lagman. “We have to be strategic in a way that we develop coffee so that the return from doing this is bigger than people buying the land for subdivisions.” This includes considering both the benefits that these species provide, and their limitations.

Understanding the Alternate Species

“There are several intrinsic limitations with Liberica because of the biology of the plant; it has a very thick pulp, it also has very large seeds, and the out-turn from fresh cherry to clean coffee is very low,” said Davis. Left on their own, these plants can grow over 30 feet tall, making it difficult to harvest. Although there are several similarities between Liberica and Excelsa, Davis shared that next-generation sequencing methods confirm that these are, in fact, two distinct species. “They’re different not just on the molecular side, but also on the basic characteristics in terms of seeds, fruits, flowers,” he said.

Kew Research currently has three research projects on Excelsa and Liberica, including one large project focused on genotyping and DNA sequencing work. “I think there will be gains in breeding for both
Arabica and Robusta, with some being more resilient than others.” Davis wants to ensure that farmers have access to other species of coffee, especially when Canephora and Arabica may no longer be an option.

Understanding the story of these alternate species is vital to unearthing the possibilities in coffee and rewriting the coffee landscape. However, the future coffee story does not need to be an ‘either/or’ option; instead, the industry would benefit by considering how these species can become a part of the experience. “What’s really heartening and exciting is that people are really excited about the wild species,” said Neuschwander, “We want all of these species to be explored and utilised, to continue to provide that diversity that makes coffee interesting and an important livelihood option for many people.”

• Anne-Marie Hardie is a freelance writer, professor and speaker based in Barrie, Ontario. She may be reached at: annemariehardie1@gmail.com

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The YouGov survey, conducted with over 2,000 UK adults, also uncovered widespread confusion about where tea comes from – 87% of people don’t realise Africa is the largest exporter of black tea, with some even believing it comes from Yorkshire.

This lack of knowledge has prompted Birchall Tea, known for its award-winning blends, to launch the #CheckYourBag campaign. The initiative urges tea lovers to rip open their tea bags and take a closer look at what’s inside. According to Birchall, it’s time for the UK to wake up to the difference in quality between premium tea leaves and the lower-grade offerings that dominate the market.

With 77% of survey respondents prioritising taste when choosing their tea, Birchall is inviting people to see and taste the difference for themselves by comparing the contents of Birchall’s Great Rift Breakfast Tea with the mass-market brands.

With tea as Britain’s favourite beverage, the #CheckYourBag campaign could make people rethink their daily brew.

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illycaffè has long been committed to mitigating the effects of climate change throughout the entire supply chain, starting with coffee cultivation, for which it promotes the sustainable model of regenerative agriculture. This model allows for proper nourishment of the plants, naturally regenerating the soil, and thus reducing CO2 emissions. Additionally, this new type of cultivation allows for an improvement in the health of the ecosystem thanks to the increased biodiversity of the species used for ground cover and soil dynamics. In the Cerrado Mineiro region, where the company has been working hand in hand with local producers for over thirty years, the Arabica Selection Brazil coffee has been grown by applying the best regenerative practices certified regenagri.

“The Arabica Selection Brazil Cerrado Mineiro is the result of the relationship we have built over the years with coffee producers and the Federation of Producers of Cerrado Mineiro. We have shared the urgency of finding a solution to the effects of climate change,” comments Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè. “Aware that this challenge can only be overcome by joining forces, we have identified the best techniques for ecosystem adaptation, mitigation, and regeneration, producing the first 100% Arabica coffee sourced from certified regenerative agriculture, as certified by regenagri.”

The reduction of natural resource exploitation, soil regeneration, and the preservation of biodiversity and future land productivity are some of the results achieved through the application of regenerative agronomic practices selected by illycaffè. This model shifts the focus from the plant to the soil, offering the best natural solutions to nourish, strengthen, and make it fertile and resilient to external threats.

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There are, however, some extensions into the subtropics and some tea gardens even pushing further into the temperate climate zone, such as the hilly area around Rize in Turkey; the prefecture of Saitama, north of Tokyo, in Japan; the Black Sea slopes of Georgia; the Azore Islands as Portugal’s outpost in the Atlantic; and also the recently developed tea estates in continental Europe and in the UK.

In the ancient and long-established tea producing countries like China, Laos, and Burma, where tea has been grown for millenaries, and for centuries in Japan, Korea, India, and for decades in East-Africa, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, etc, the tea gardens were set up in areas that were well-suited for weather patterns, which allowed them to thrive after a period of rest and replenishment or after the rains. Although unforeseen weather events did occasionally occur, these remained exceptional and were usually compensated for by improved harvesting in the weeks after.

In recent and untraditional locations, the tea bush varieties that prosper have been able to adjust their agricultural requirements to the specific local climate and topography, and hence, gradually fit into growing conditions that allow to develop a valid tea economy, thus demonstrating proudly how flexible and resilient tea can be as a pioneer crop.

The growing awareness about the green house effect, the temperature calculations creating the fear of global warming, and the ever-increasing frequency of formerly unusual weather incidents, like torrential rains, sudden cold spells, long dry spells, delayed monsoon rains, and warm winters etc, have generated a need for stock taking. This first step intends to investigate ways and means to adapt, cope and respond to the adverse effects of climate change. Whilst tea farmers are used to adjusting their
ways every year according to the ups and downs of the weather, these fluctuations have become
more erratic, more intense and more frequent recently, generating concern about the short term outlook, fearing that the traditional seasonal patterns will no longer occur in a reliable way.

Considering Possible Adjustments

Since the concerns are caused by the manifold incidents of abnormal weather due to climate changes, the impacts of such unorthodox weather on tea cultivation are under close scrutiny. Whilst these meteorological incidents vary greatly from one tea region to another, they all result in adverse effects on volume and quality, and of course, on producer income and livelihood, which is particularly dramatic in
smallholder villages, where tea is often the main cash crop, namely in China, India, Kenya, and Indonesia, but also in other countries.

Professor Han Wenyan, from the Chinese Tea Research Institute in Hangzhou, underlines that the high temperatures and long-lasting draughts during the summer may finally result in a shifting of the southern tea growing areas to higher altitudes and higher latitudes, moving towards the subtropical climate zone. China is furthermore actively developing more heat resistant cultivars. The torrential rains that hit Assam in 2022 produced such an intense proliferation of pests attacking the leaves, that the bushes were severely damaged down to root systems, which most adversely affected the harvest. In Kenya’s high altitude tea-growing areas, the occurrence of unusual and long lasting cold spells, that resulted in frostbite and made the leaves unfit for harvesting, spurred research into creating more resilient and cold
resistant varietals.

Florent Weugue, a French premium tea retailer, who operates in Tokyo, Japan, underlines that warmish winters are one of the major problems in Japan: the Chinese tea varietals, which are grown here need four cold months of dormancy, which allow them to replenish their stock of nutrients from the soil, in order to flush with the arrival of warmer temperatures in the spring. Without a true cold season this does not happen and the result is that the bushes produce less buds and the leaves are lacking flavour intensity, which becomes highly detrimental to harvesting volume and to cup quality.

If there is enough space available, moving the tea fields higher up or further north is an option. Without available space, it’s the bush that needs to be adapted in order to thrive in hotter or colder, rainier or dryer climate by being more resilient. Both approaches need long term planning and in-depth research,
which will take several years before yielding any tangible results, bearing in mind the costs as a heavy financial burden. Many believe that such huge modifications and transfers should be taken to a dedicated international platform for sharing information and also obtain some government support in order to be processed successfully.

In the meantime, there are some practical and more readily available technical means, like more irrigation in dry areas, more shading in hot areas, setting up fans in the fields to break frost, more terracing to evacuate heavy rains, better weed control to keep away nasty insects, more fertilising to give the bush resistance, tight pruning to stimulate budding, more pest control to avoid massive infestation, adjusted picking rounds to preserve budding capacity.

All these aforementioned quoted measures can be carried out and be applied relatively rapidly, yet at significant costs and with the help of an available workforce. However, for many smallholders, the money and labour will require coordination and financial support from national authorities like Tea Boards or
Ministries of Agriculture.

And Still There is a Global Oversupply

All international reports state that there is a continued status of global oversupply, with tea consumption lagging behind. Although hampered by adverse climate incidents, international freight problems, trade
disruptions due to sanctions and political conflicts, ever-increasing costs of fertilisers and serious labour shortage, the annual world production of tea keeps increasing year on year. The market is dominated by China – the leading producer – supplying 49 percent of the world’s teas, and the other globally traded teas represent less than 30 percent of the world’s tea output. Although there is awareness about the
adverse impact of climate change in most national markets, there is not yet much effort deployed to investigate the challenges in a coordinated manner. The file is however under close scrutiny in the fields, in tea research laboratories, and in research institutes on national level mainly.

• Barbara Dufrêne is the former secretary general of the European Tea Committee and editor of La Nouvelle du Thé. She may be reached at: b-dufrêne@orange.fr.

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