On Tuesday 26 November, Agropolis Fondation participated in an "ECOFFEE" workshop organised by CIRAD researchers specialising in the coffee sector. The aim of this meeting was to propose coffee companies and importers to work together to reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides in coffee, with a 10-year objective of "pesticide-free coffee".
Eleven companies attended this meeting. The signature, in 2020, of a document with a common strategic vision will be a first step towards achieving private actors’ commitment.
Coffee plantations covers 11 million hectares worldwide. From small producers to large intensive producers, the use of pesticides and herbicides has a significant impact on the environment and human health for both producers and consumers. Yet, there is little discussion and data on this issue. ECOFFEE’s objective is to anticipate the sustainability of the sector and move it towards responsible production and consumption.