Over the past thirty years, more and more tea, coffee and cocoa farmers have focused on climate smart and sustainable practices by adopting ‘certification standards’ that help maintain soil quality, increase productivity and reduce costs. The standards also assure buyers of agricultural products that the products in their supply chains are environmentally sustainable.
In July 2020, a milestone was reached when the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Rainforest Alliance, published its new standard (certification program) for production systems that conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. The standard applies to more than 5 million hectares of tropical agricultural land, affecting the livelihoods of more than 2 million agricultural families.
“Certifications such as the Rainforest Alliance have played a key role in promoting sustainable supply chains at the end of production and consumption,” said Christopher Stewart, global head of corporate responsibility and sustainability, Olam International. “We have been working with the Rainforest Alliance for years and appreciate their expertise in sustainability and implementation skills to help us promote our farming programs. A Rainforest Alliance that can stimulate with stamps can motivate consumers to produce sustainably produced products buy and support farmers.