Dubai, 9 September 2025 (Qahwa World) – The Rainforest Alliance has announced the launch of the world’s first dedicated regenerative agriculture certification for coffee, a milestone that seeks to transform farming practices from simply reducing harm to actively restoring ecosystems and improving farmer livelihoods. The new “regenerative” seal is expected to appear on consumer coffee bags starting in 2026.
Bu girişim, Ekim 2025'te yürürlüğe girecek olan Sürdürülebilir Tarım Standardı'nın 1.4 versiyonunun yayınlanmasının ardından geldi. Revize edilen standart, yedi kategoriye yayılmış 221 olan gereklilik sayısını üç kategoride konsolide edilmiş 148 gerekliliğe indirerek sertifikasyonu çiftçiler için daha kolay hale getirirken güvenilirliğini de koruyor. Bu düzenlemenin yanı sıra, sertifika sahipleri artık mevcut sertifikalarına 17 rejeneratif gereklilik ekleme veya toprak sağlığı, biyoçeşitlilik, su yönetimi, iklim direnci ve çiftçi geçim kaynaklarına odaklanan 119 gereklilikten oluşan bağımsız bir rejeneratif sertifika alma seçeneğine sahiptir.
The Rainforest Alliance has framed regenerative agriculture as a shift beyond a “do no harm” mindset toward one of repair and restoration. The new certification aims to make coffee part of an ecological recovery process that benefits both the land and the farming communities that depend on it. The organization emphasized that every future cup of coffee should give back more than it takes. A recent report by TechnoServe supported this view, finding that the transition to regenerative agriculture in key coffee-producing countries could significantly increase exports and raise farmer incomes.
Implementation of the new certification has already begun in coffee farms across Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Nicaragua. The first coffees carrying the regenerative seal are expected to reach international markets in 2026, targeting consumers who increasingly demand sustainable and credible products. The launch also coincides with sector-wide initiatives such as RegenCoffee, introduced by the Global Coffee Platform to create a common language around regenerative agriculture, further strengthening Rainforest Alliance’s leadership in this field.
Beyond the environmental and social dimensions, the development comes at a critical moment as the European Union’s deforestation-free supply chain law (EUDR) is set to take effect on 30 December 2025. The law will require companies to prove that commodities entering EU markets are not linked to deforestation. Observers note that the regenerative certification could provide companies with an essential tool to comply with these new requirements, especially in the coffee sector, which faces growing regulatory scrutiny.
Despite the enthusiasm, there are concerns that additional certification layers could impose extra burdens on smallholder farmers who already struggle with limited resources. The Rainforest Alliance has responded by stressing that the new standard was developed over years of research and consultation with farmers, companies, and civil society groups. The goal, it said, is not to increase burdens but to build long-term resilience and open new opportunities for market access.
By combining the streamlined Sustainable Agriculture Standard with the launch of the first regenerative certification for coffee, the Rainforest Alliance is signaling a strategic shift in its vision. The initiative goes beyond traditional sustainability frameworks, aiming to create a new agricultural model that balances environmental protection, agricultural economics, and social development. With this step, the global coffee sector enters a new chapter in which every cup of coffee is not just a beverage, but a contribution to restoring the planet and securing a more sustainable future.
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