Climate-smart coffee production in the East African Community and export opportunities to the EU

Cynthia Sitati; Anderson Kehbila; Alphayo Lutta; Timothy Suljada; Philip Osano; Climate-smart coffee production in the East African Community and export opportunities to the EU

doi:https://doi.org/10.51414/sei2024.031

This report discusses the benefits of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) for coffee cultivation in the East African Community. CSA practices can increase yields, enable export business to markets like the EU that have extensive certification requirements, and address climate risks.

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Citation

Majani Sunguti, E., Sitati, C., Kehbila, A., Lutta, A., Suljada, T., & Osano, P. (2024). Climate-smart coffee production in the East African Community and export opportunities to the EU. SEI report. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://doi.org/10.51414/sei2024.031

DOI

https://doi.org/10.51414/sei2024.031

Key messages

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices for coffee in the East African Community (EAC) such as mulching and agroforestry can increase yields and export opportunities, while also responding to climate change risks.

Coffee exports to the EU from EAC countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, have grown by around 60% over the past decade, and business models differ by country, with auctions being most prevalent.

Local growers need to scale up CSA practices in order to meet sustainability certification and other requirements for the growing EU market, which include quality, traceability, biodiversity conservation, social responsibility, packaging and labelling compliance, and adherence to phytosanitary measures.

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