Brazil is already the largest producer of sustainable coffee in the world
Today Brazil produces the largest volume of certified coffee in the world, in fact, the country is the largest source of sustainable coffees in the world. The observation was made during a council meeting held UTZ sustainability initiative in the country last weekend. The country also stands as the largest global supplier of Utz certified coffee, with sales totaling 1 million bags of coffee with the UTZ certification in 2010.
Among all UTZ coffee sold worldwide from 23 producing countries that adopt good agricultural practices and environmental and social criteria established by the UTZ Certified, 38% are from Brazil, 22% are from Vietnam and 18% are from Honduras. The domestic market is also starting to become aware of the importance of certification, last year approximately 200 thousand bags of Utz certified coffee were sold in Brazil and used by industry to prepare coffee sold to consumers in Brazil.
Among the considerations made by the board during its meeting is the need to expand the system to support produtoresbrasileiros, both arabica and conilon, and developing more brands of coffee with the UTZ certification in the domestic market, similar to what has been done for specialty coffees. Launched recently, the Pestle Café Source is an example of national product that has the seal UTZ, a project stemming from the partnership with UTZ Sara Lee and Wal Mart.
Besides coffee, UTZ also works with the certification of cocoa and tea, and conducts traceability Deol African palm (palm oil), among other products. UTZ was founded in 1997 and is now present in over 60 countries around the world.
The Sustainable Coffee Program of Brazil (PCS), developed by ABIC – Brazilian Coffee Industry is facing the coffee industry, aligned with the sustainability concept.
This initiative aims, through partnerships between industry and the farmers and their cooperatives, promote quality and sustainability throughout the coffee chain, from the agricultural process, passing the benefit to the industry in the roasting process.
The organization seeks to offer differentiated coffees, with assured traceability from the plant to the cup, produced with sustainability criteria and quality control, all backed by certification programs, checks and audits on farms in the coffee industry.
Sustainable Coffee – ABIC
The Sustainable Coffee Program of Brazil (PCS), developed by ABIC – Brazilian Coffee Industry is facing the coffee industry, aligned with the sustainability concept.
This initiative aims, through partnerships between industry and the farmers and their cooperatives, promote quality and sustainability throughout the coffee chain, from the agricultural process, passing the benefit to the industry in the roasting process.
The organization seeks to offer differentiated coffees, with assured traceability from the plant to the cup, produced with sustainability criteria and quality control, all backed by certification programs, checks and audits on farms in the coffee industry.
The PCS is based on cooperation agreements with the organizations of the industrial growers through the ABIC. The grain produced on farms and certified as to its sustainable production, serve as a basic raw material – at least 60% of the composition of the blend – for the production of superior type or Gourmet coffees, certified by the Coffee Quality Program – PQC, the ABIC , which ensures the quality of the drink and sensory characteristics of the final product.
The PQC ABIC has certified 200 Brazilian coffee brands, of which 70 are superior or Gourmet coffee. The two entities combine their programs through a Memorandum of Cooperation, which will be managed by the Instituto Totum, accredited certification body specialized in the management and quality programs.
The new products of the Sustainable Coffee Program of Brazil, will receive a special identification – this logo of a tree, topping the title Sustainable Coffees of Brazil – which will facilitate their identification by retailers, distributors, coffee shops and consumers.