Coffee geographical indication – A new step to elevate the value of the coffee industry

– DESCRIBE THE ORIGIN –

Geographically-indicated coffee is one of the important development trends that some countries are particularly interested in, such as Colombia with Cafe de Colombia, Jamaica with Blue Mountain coffee, Guatemala with Antigua coffee. , Hawaii (USA) with Kona coffee, Ethiopia with Harrars and Yirgacheffes, Tanzania with Kilimanjaro coffee, etc. Especially, in the specialty coffee market, coffee bearing geographical indications also has very high economic value and extremely scarce. What is a coffee geographical indication? Let’s find out with 43 Factory Coffee Roaster!

What is a coffee geographical indication?

Protection of geographical indications

Geographical Indication (GI) protection is a certification for products of origin and origin that bear the distinctive characteristics of a certain region (locality, country). The GI system has been around since the early 20th century, originating in France with the name d’origine contrôlée (AOC). It is often used for typical French wines and cheeses. In 1992, the European Union approved the “Protected Designation of Origin” (PDO) framework to support GI systems for all member states.

Normally, in order to be granted GI certification, products must follow certain criteria regarding origin and manufacturing process. For example, many GI-protected wines worldwide must be produced with a high percentage of grapes from a given growing region. These grapes represent the terroir of the region and provide a finished product with a distinctive flavor unique to that region. Or as to officially bear the name Roquefort cheese, this cheese must be guaranteed to be made from the milk of the Lacaune breed and aged in natural caves near Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, Aveyron. This is because a certain mold found only in the soil of these caves gives Roquefort cheese its distinctive flavor.

Protecting geographical indications for coffee

Coffee is a product that may be protected by a geographical indication (GI) if it originates from a particular country or region. This means that GI coffee is only grown and processed in a certain region and has characteristics that cannot be imitated anywhere else in the world. For example, famous GI coffee brands are Café de Colombia, Jamaica Blue Mountain, Son La of Vietnam,…

How to get coffee certified for Geographical Indication Protection?

A certificate of a geographical indication is granted to products of intrinsic quality associated with a particular growing or production area. Therefore, in order to have a certificate of protection of geographical indications of coffee, coffee production areas need to possess unique and different characteristics compared to other areas. In addition, producers must demonstrate that their farming methods are consistent and unique, and present complete, comprehensive application documents to the administration.

As in order to achieve GI certification for Son La coffee, Vietnam, coffee must be grown on land with the most favorable and unique geographical features in the region such as high mountain slopes, steep slopes, fertile soil. variety, unique climate, temperature changes continuously between day and night. Farmers must adhere to strict standards of agricultural and post-harvest practices such as picking cherries when ripe for the best beans, harvesting coffee by hand to avoid damage to the cherries and seeds. coffee or planting shade trees to protect coffee trees from the harsh sun and to help with sustainable farming.

Protecting geographical indications of the value of the coffee industry

Products with a geographical indication (GI) are increasingly popular around the world, especially in the EU. According to statistics, in 2020, the sales revenue of GI products in the EU reached 74.76 billion euros, accounting for the majority of the total revenue of the global food and beverage market. The warm welcome of GI-certified products has contributed significantly to the development of the coffee industry. Typically, the success of Son La coffee – a GI coffee product of Vietnam. Since being recognized as GI in 2018, Son La Coffee has made great strides in the international market. Mr. Duc – a senior officer at Minh Tien Coffee Company, Son La said that Minh Tien produces about 22,000 – 25,000 tons of green coffee beans per year. In particular, thanks to the achievement of GI certification, about 90% of the total production is exported to Germany. The rest is exported to the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Japan and the United States.

According to Mr. Vu Viet Thang – Director of Phuc Sinh Coffee Company in Son La, GI-certified coffee helps create a difference and uniqueness for the product. GI Coffee is very beneficial when it comes to introducing products to new customers and new markets. It helps to build the prestige of the coffee-producing country and region and the brand trust of the supplier. In addition, GI coffee is also a shining example of high-quality coffee that can bring farmers new opportunities in the market. As a result, farmers can have a more stable income and contribute to the sustainability of the supply chain.

Coffee geographical indications are not enough for farmers to produce sustainable coffee

GI certification is an advantage that allows farmers to claim the quality of their coffee in the international market, but is not a complete solution to the coffee industry’s sustainability problems. Dang Van Thinh – Director of Son La Coffee Company Limited, one of the GI arabica coffee producers, said that currently, there is no clear distinction between GI and GI coffee growing areas. no GI. Many customers are not familiar with Son La Arabica coffee brand. This makes it difficult for farmers and producers to access new markets. Moreover, the cultivation of GI coffee has not yet brought higher income to farmers. The system of quality assurance and traceability is still not tight enough to control coffee quality.

Mr. Dang Van Thinh also said that in order to improve income and sustainability for coffee farmers, having a Geographical Indication (GI) certificate is not enough. It is necessary to invest in infrastructure and quality management systems for the entire coffee value chain. In particular, it is necessary to improve the process of treating wastewater and by-products to protect the environment and reduce water pollution. However, the costs of these measures are very high, requiring the cooperation of many stakeholders. In addition, coffee harvesting also needs to be improved to ensure even fruit ripening and reduce post-harvest losses. Only when there is a quality assurance system from planting to harvesting can a sustainable, organic coffee product be created for coffee farmers.

Obtaining GI certification is a good start, but improving its international reach is key if coffee production in the region is to become as sustainable as possible. Today’s consumers are not only interested in the taste of coffee but also want to know its origin and production process. GI transparency can act as a bridge between producers and consumers, helping to increase trust and cohesion between the two. However, for GI to maximize its effectiveness, appropriate strategies and support from stakeholders are needed. Let’s explore these things with 43 Factory through the next articles!

If you want to enjoy high-quality coffee beans, cultivated according to sustainable science and can know the origin of the growing area, farmers, production and processing methods, please visit XLIII Coffee!

XLIII Coffee grew from the forerunner 43 Factory Coffee Roaster specializing in providing high-quality specialty coffees with an SCA of 85 or more from sustainable growing regions around the world.

Source: perfectdailygrind

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