African Coffee Roasters launches EU organic certified coffee
KENYA – African Coffee Roasters (ACR), a leading Kenyan coffee processor, has made history by launching one of Kenya’s first certified organic coffee under the Traceable Organic Coffee from Kenya Project.
This milestone marks a transformative moment for the country’s coffee industry, reinforcing Kenya’s position as a producer of premium, sustainable coffee for global markets.
The certified organic coffee, dubbed Trace Kenya, was introduced at an event celebrating the culmination of the Trace Kenya project, held on March 27 at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi.
The initiative, spearheaded by Solidaridad East and Central Africa in partnership with African Coffee Roasters and Rabobank, has played a critical role in supporting farmers across Nandi, Kericho, Bungoma, and other regions in transitioning to organic coffee farming.
Speaking at the launch, Jacob Elsborg, CEO of African Coffee Roasters, emphasized the company’s commitment to shifting the value of coffee from consuming to producing countries.
“Today, green coffee generates over US$200 billion globally, yet less than 10% of that value remains in coffee-producing countries. This imbalance is what we sought to change,” said Elsborg.
He highlighted that Kenya has long been recognized for its high-quality coffee, and this certification signals a major shift toward organic farming.
With the global market, particularly in the European Union (EU) and the United States, increasingly demanding organic-certified coffee, ACR has responded to this demand by leading efforts to transition Kenyan coffee farmers to organic production.
After years of dedication, the first batch of about 21,700 Kgs of organic Kenyan coffee is now ready for export, primarily targeting markets in Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland, Elsborg revealed.
“By roasting, packaging, and marketing coffee locally, we retain nearly 60% of the value in East Africa, particularly Kenya. This not only creates jobs but also supports families and farmers across the region,” added Elsborg.
Organic certification is a time-consuming and expensive process. Unlike neighboring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where organic coffee farming is more established, Kenya lacked certified organic coffee until now.
For years, ACR sourced organic coffee from these countries to meet market demand. With Kenya now producing certified organic coffee, the country is poised to expand its presence in the premium organic coffee market.
Elsborg also revealed that ACR has undergone significant ownership changes. “We are no longer owned by Coop Denmark but by Slow Forest Coffee. This transition will allow us to not only offer organic coffee but also introduce carbon-negative coffee to the market, a unique and groundbreaking innovation.”
“Our mission remains unchanged: championing fair trade, sustainability, and innovation in the coffee sector.
Advancing sustainability in Kenya’s coffee industry
Since its inception in 2020, the Trace Kenya project has focused on sustainability, traceability, and equity in coffee production. Through strategic interventions, farmers have adopted climate-smart agriculture, enhancing their resilience to climate change while achieving long-term economic benefits.
Rachael Wanyoike, Managing Director at Solidaridad, emphasized the resilience of the project’s stakeholders, especially given its launch during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our initial target was to engage 15,000 farmers, yet we have exceeded expectations, reaching over 25,000. Additionally, carbon trading, an aspect not originally considered, has now become a reality for some of our partner farmers. This project has evolved beyond its initial scope, proving that adaptability and innovation drive progress,” she noted.
Wanyoike further highlighted Solidaridad’s mission to integrate sustainability into agriculture, ensuring regenerative, climate-smart, and organic farming becomes the norm rather than the exception.
According to her, the project’s success serves as a foundation, a case study that other regions can emulate to advance sustainability initiatives.
“Despite these challenges, the project has achieved remarkable milestones. A total of 481 trainers have been trained, reaching over 25,301 farmers. This extensive training effort has laid the groundwork for a more sustainable coffee industry in Kenya,” Wanyoike remarked.
Betty Musembi, Senior Project Manager for Solidaridad ECA, however, noted that despite the success, the project faced challenges in residue detection efforts to ensure the production of fully organic products.
According to her, glyphosate contamination from neighboring farms, poses a significant threat to organic certification.
“Ensuring 100% compliance among cooperative farmers is also a hurdle, as even a few non-compliant farmers can jeopardize an entire cooperative’s certification,” she said.
Government-initiated coffee reforms have added further complexities. Licensing changes have affected millers, with some newly certified organic millers losing their licenses shortly after certification. The limited availability of certified organic inputs remains another concern, as farmers struggle with the high cost of organic fertilizers and pest control solutions.
Hon. Stephen Sang, Governor of Nandi County, commended the Trace Kenya project for aligning with Kenya’s Vision 2030 economic transformation agenda and the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy.
He revealed that the government is now working on establishing a Geographical Indication (GI) framework for Kenyan coffee, ensuring global recognition of the country’s unique coffee varieties.
The event brought together farmers, coffee research institutes, millers, industry experts, and government officials, reflecting broad support for Kenya’s organic coffee revolution.
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