Rainforest alliance certifies first coffee farms in Africa.

Farmers in Ethiopia have recently announced the birth of a sustainable coffee movement. A group of 678 farms in the Djimmah region are the first in Africa to win a Rainforest Alliance


certification. The Ethiopian farmers were certified under the administration of ASK International Trading, PLC, and Jihad Mohammed, owner of a washing and buying station in Haro, Manna. Auditors from The Rainforest Alliance and Fundacion Natura, its partner conservation group in Colombia, performed the certification audit.

The news marks The Rainforest Alliance's first coffee partnership outside Latin America, where more than 3,400 farms in 10 countries already promote socially responsible and environmentally sustainable agriculture

. "We are proud to be recognized as the first holder of Rainforest Alliance certification in Africa," said Suffian Mahdi, managing director of private exporter ASK International Trading and the project leader in Ethiopia. "The support for sustainable coffee farmers is an honorable step and an encouragement for the people of our country. Rainforest Alliance certification is a means for the farmers to generate a better price and helps our company to remain competitive."

The farmers began preparing for certification a year ago. In order to obtain The Rainforest Alliance certification, farms had to meet a set of ecosystem, wildlife conservation, and agrochemical


standards. The standards verify that workers have access to healthcare, education, and dignified housing. Farms that meet the standards are awarded The Rainforest Alliance Certified seal.

"This achievement means the empowerment of a local African community in one of the poorest countries in the world," noted Patrick F. Installe, managing director of EFICO
. "Rainforest Alliance certification enables the farmers to sell their coffee as a specialty product. "The Rainforest Alliance started its work in Ethiopia at the request of coffee buyers, suppliers and farmers. We are involving local stakeholders to make sure that our certification standards are properly adapted to the local realities. We will also start training auditors because we believe that local professionals are the best experts in environmental and social issues."

Today, Ethiopia is an important producer of high-quality coffee. Shade-grown Arabica






beans are cultivated throughout the country: Small farms produce some 95% of the Ethiopian coffee production--around five million 60-kg bags.