Coffee Board brews sustainability push with new framework

Why in news?

Coffee Board published sustainability standards and is rolling out a three-level certification to boost coffee exports.

UPSC Relevance

• Prelims: Coffee Board, Coffee Act 1942, INDICOFS, coffee-growing states and GI coffees, EUDR, International Coffee Organization.

Status of coffee production 

• India is the world’s 7th-largest coffee producer and 5th-largest exporter.
• Exports crossed $2 billion in 2025-26, and nearly 39% of them were value-added products (instant or roasted coffee).
• Indian coffee’s unique selling point is shade-grown cultivation, which the new standards aim to leverage.
  • Indian coffee grows under a two-tier canopy of native and leguminous trees, intercropped with pepper, cardamom, orange and banana. This protects Western Ghats biodiversity, stores carbon and protects soil. It is effectively agroforestry, unlike the sun-grown monocultures of Brazil and Vietnam.

Sustainability framework

• The Coffee Board has published sustainability standards for coffee under Indian Coffee Sustainability Standard and Certification Scheme (INDICOFS). 
• The scheme was launched in December 2025 and is voluntary. 
• It starts with growers and will later extend to the whole value chain through Chain of Custody Standards.
• Three-level certification:
  • Level 1 (Basic) is meant for smallholders and is done by the Coffee Board, based on growers’ self-certification.
  • Levels 2 (Aspiring) is for  independent third-party verification. 
  • Level 3 (International Benchmark) are handled by independent certification bodies accredited under ISO 17065. It benchmarks Indian standards against internationally recognised sustainability frameworks.
• A steering committee has been set up to put certification into effect .

Why the sustainability certification push ?

• The certification gap. Although most Indian coffee is grown sustainably, only about 15% of output holds a global certification such as Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade or 4C. India has more than 4 lakh small and marginal holdings, and nearly 2 million people depend on the sector.
• The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Regulation (EU) 2023/1115. It covers coffee, cocoa, palm oil, soy, rubber, cattle and wood. Only deforestation-free, legally produced goods with a due diligence statement can enter the EU market. Europe (Italy, Germany, Belgium) is India’s largest coffee market.
• Brand value. Premium buyers pay more for certified, traceable coffee. A national standard lowers the cost of certification for small growers compared with expensive private labels.
• Leverage India’s shade-grown advantage. 

Coffee Board

Coffee geography

• Climate: Tropical, 15 to 28°C, 150 to 250 cm of rainfall, hill slopes at about 600 to 1,600 m, well-drained soils, and shade. It is sensitive to frost and to strong sun.
• Varieties: Robusta makes up about 70% of production and Arabica about 30%.
• History: Baba Budan is said to have brought 7 coffee seeds from Yemen (Mocha) around 1670 and planted them in the Chandragiri hills (Bababudangiri), Chikkamagaluru.
• GI coffees: Coorg Arabica, Wayanad Robusta, Chikmagalur Arabica, Araku Valley Arabica, Bababudangiri Arabica, and Monsooned Malabar Robusta. Monsooned Malabar is beans exposed to the monsoon winds on the Malabar coast.
• International: The International Coffee Organization (ICO) is headquartered in London and India is a member. International Coffee Day is 1 October.

Coffee growing states

Practice MCQ 

Q1. Consider the following statements about the Coffee Board of India:

1. It is a statutory body set up under the Coffee Act, 1942 and works under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

2. The Coffee Board is headquartered at Bangalore.

3. Its new sustainability certification scheme has three levels, of which the entry level is based on self-certification by growers.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one     

(b) Only two     

(c) All three    

(d) None

Answer: (b). Statement 1 is wrong because the Board is under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Q2. Consider the following pairs (Geographical Indication coffee : State):

1. Monsooned Malabar Robusta : Kerala

2. Araku Valley Arabica : Andhra Pradesh 

3. Wayanad Robusta : Tamil Nadu

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one     

(b) Only two     

(c) All three     

(d) None

Answer: (b). Wayanad Robusta belongs to Kerala, not Tamil Nadu.