Centres demonstrate sustainability

The global demand for UTZ CERTIFIED coffee is increasing. To assist Kenyan smallholders to take full advantage of the demand, Sustainable Management Services (SMS) Ltd and Solidaridad set up Centres of Excellence in the main coffee districts in Kenya. The participating coops and wet mills have demonstrated the benefits of sustainable coffee production.

Target

'A better price for a better product'. 5 wet mills at 2 Kenyan cooperatives receive training at Production-, Processing- and Management level to increase their productivity and improve the quality of their coffee. Through UTZ Certification, they obtain market linkage and better terms of trade.

Reason

To provide producers with the opportunity to improve their livelihoods. Certification brings many benefits for farmers, such as capacity building, training in sustainable farming techniques and better terms of trade. The Centres of Excellence serve as models for other cooperatives that would be interested to adopt sustainable standards. 

Activities

• Solidaridad and SMS organise sensitization meetings to inform producers on the importance of becoming UTZ CERTIFIED and the activities to be implemented.
• Project teams, consisting of lead/promoter  farmers and internal auditors are selected for the Centres of Excellence.
• To prepare for certification, trainings on good agricultural and processing practices, Internal Control System (ICS) and the UTZ standards are held.
• Various documents on the policies and procedures will be developed for the ICS. Proper records of all the project activities will be kept including records pertaining to the implementation of the ICS and UTZ chain of Custody. Traceability is a crucial integral part of the ICS.

Results

• The establishment of a long term partnership between Solidaridad (NGO), Sustainable Management Services through the exporter Sangana (ECOM) and the Kenyan coffee cooperatives in a joint effort to implement UTZ Certification and integrate high social  and environmental standards.
• The highest coffee prices ever in the history of the Kenyan coffee cooperative Society, Rung’eto, through UTZ certification and a stronger bargaining position was achieved. Producers earned 33% higher per kg than in the previous season.

Facts

Location: Central Province, Kirinyaga District at the foot of Mt. Kenya.
Duration: 2 years.
Budget: 2009 - 53.161 Euros by Solidaridad, SMS matched with 56.4 Euros. 2010 - 109,701 Euros by Solidaridad, SMS will match with 49,585 Euros.
Target: 7,900 producers.
Partners: Sustainable Management Services through Sangana Commodities of ECOM.