During Climate Week 2024, a groundbreaking initiative was announced, uniting key global players to transform the coffee supply chain. NGIS, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Google, The International Coffee Organization (ICO), Illy, and Lavazza have partnered to build a more sustainable, transparent, and resilient coffee value chain, with an initial focus on Africa.

The UNIDO Solutions Platform

The UNIDO Solutions Platform is a digital tool that helps coffee producers gain important insights into their supply chains. By using artificial intelligence (AI), the platform enables producers to understand the environmental impacts of their operations and adopt more sustainable practices. It specifically addresses the new and evolving regulatory requirements, providing data-driven solutions to create a sustainable and climate-resilient coffee supply chain for everyone involved.

This platform combines various technologies and data sources, such as AI, digital platforms, satellite imagery and geospatial datasets. With the EU’s Deforestation Regulation coming into effect, coffee operators and their suppliers must verify that they source deforestation-free materials throughout their supply chains.

By making supply chain data more accessible and transparent, the platform empowers coffee growers and ensures a fair distribution of power among all parties. This not only helps producers increase their productivity but also supports compliance with strict regulations, allowing them to meet the challenges of sustainable sourcing effectively.

Nathan Eaton, Executive Director at NGIS, emphasised the significance of this initiative:
“This landmark initiative will deliver a transparent coffee supply chain, meeting both current and evolving sustainable sourcing regulations while bridging the technological divide across the value chain. 

The initiative to transform supply chains in the coffee industry will leverage Google’s Cloud, AI, Geospatial and TraceMark solutions to enable deforestation-free coffee through traceability, transparency and data driven climate resilience.

Tackling Environmental Challenges

An estimated 100,000 hectares of forest—an area larger than Singapore—are lost every year to coffee farming. This deforestation accelerates climate change, harms biodiversity, and disrupts local ecosystems. 

By improving traceability and transparency, this initiative aims to reverse these harmful practices, promoting responsible sourcing that safeguards forests and fosters long-term sustainability.

Preparing for New Regulations

The upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), set to take effect in December 2024, will enforce strict sustainability requirements for coffee, cocoa, palm oil, and other products exported to the EU. 50% of all coffee beans produced are subject to the EUDR regulation. NGIS’s traceability solutions, combined with its geospatial expertise, will help African coffee producers meet these new regulatory demands. By providing real-time insights into land use and supply chain impacts, NGIS is supporting producers as they navigate this complex regulatory landscape.

As the coffee industry faces mounting climate risks and regulatory pressures, NGIS is proud to lead this global effort, driving sustainable practices and enhancing traceability through digital transformation.