Solidaridad and RGC Coffee team up to strengthen the coffee supply chain in Honduras

^{Staff members from Solidaridad, RGC Coffee and Cafico.}

Solidaridad and RGC Coffee have launched a strategic alliance designed to strengthen the agricultural practices of coffee producers in western Honduras. This initiative, taking place within RGC Coffee's Todos al Aguaproject and Solidaridad's global Pathways to Prosperity programme, seeks to scale up climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts among coffee producers.

Solidaridad is evaluating RGC's supply chain with a pre-check process that includes the use of satellite technologies and global monitoring tools to identify improvement areas and develop tailored action plans.

The organizations will work together to ensure compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and support producers in their efforts to improve their quality of life and manage their natural resources.

A robust pre-check protocol

Solidaridad has developed a pre-check protocol aligned with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This protocol integrates national land use regulations and deforestation risk assessments and is further enhanced by a global alert model that enables the early detection of changes in land use.

To ensure its effectiveness, we have implemented a verification system that utilizes multi-temporal and multi-spectral satellite imagery. Solidaridad will use its proprietary technology to analyze these images, enabling continuous and accurate monitoring of the coffee supply chain. Through this approach, we identify risk areas and propose specific actions to improve sustainability and compliance with international regulations.

"The importance of the coffee sector in the Honduran economy cannot be overstated. Since Europe represents the largest export market for Honduran coffee, supporting coffee producers in complying with international regulations for market access is a priority for Solidaridad," says Vilma Bautista, Coffee Programme Manager, Solidaridad in Central America.

Ensuring that no producer is left behind

The collaboration with RGC Coffee is designed to ensure that Honduran coffee producers in the western part of the country will not lose out when the EUDR rules take effect.

The initiative plans to:

• Have Solidaridad conduct a detailed analysis of RGC's supply chain, from farm to exporter, and identify critical points and producers at risk for deforestation.
• Develop improvement plans for producers nearing EUDR compliance, focusing on ways to strengthen their agricultural practices and secure market access within Europe.
• Support producers who are not ready to meet EUDR compliance standards with help from RGC Coffee.

A comprehensive approach to sustainability

The initiative is part of a broader cooperation agreement to enhance RGC Coffee's supply chain capabilities in Honduras. To support these efforts, Solidaridad will:

• Assess producer compliance with EUDR requirements through our rigorous protocol that comprehensively integrates national land-use regulations and advanced verification methodologies.
• Utilize satellite technology as a means to ensure regulatory compliance and promote sustainable practices that contribute to the conservation of natural resources and the responsible development of producing communities.
• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the coffee production carbon footprint to identify reduction opportunities through scenario-based analysis.
• Build the capacity of producers with training and technical assistance to improve their agricultural practices and adopt agroforestry systems.
• Promote sustainable agricultural practices that respect the environment and improve the quality of life for producers.

This approach not only allows for measuring the environmental impact of coffee farming, but also underscores the importance of making informed decisions to move towards more sustainable practices. For instance, by quantifying the carbon footprint, we pinpoint specific areas for significant improvement, fostering more responsible coffee production aligned with sustainability goals.

"For RGC Coffee, working with other organizations is fundamental, as it allows us to accelerate the process of change. Within the framework of our Todos al Agua programme in Honduras, which brings together more than 3,000 producers, we have been promoting the implementation of climate-smart agricultural practices," says Andrés Acevedo, the Agronomy Leader at RGC Coffee.

"Additionally, we've strengthened efforts in coffee plantation renewal, exceeding half a million per year. This ensures long-term business profitability and decent incomes for producer families."

RGC and Solidaridad Partner across Latin America

This strategic alliance between Solidaridad and RGC Coffee represents a significant step towards a sustainable and equitable coffee sector in Honduras. Through a combination of Solidaridad's expertise in sustainable agriculture and supply chain analysis and RGC Coffee's commitment to improving producer livelihoods, this initiative aims to foster compliance with the EUDR, while creating a thriving and resilient coffee industry in Honduras.

In addition to the collaboration in Honduras, Solidaridad is working with RGC Coffee and producers in Colombia and Peru to achieve a sustainable coffee supply from value chains in those countries to ensure compliance with the EUDR protocol on deforestation and due diligence.

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