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JDE Peet’s has spearheaded the launch of the Coffee Canopy Partnership, a cross-industry initiative designed to improve the identification and remediation of coffee-linked deforestation. Developed in collaboration with major sector stakeholders, including Louis Dreyfus Company, Sucden, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, Touton, Sucafina, and Tchibo, the partnership aims to establish the world’s first comprehensive, openly accessible geospatial map of global coffee production.

The project utilises satellite technology provided by Airbus to monitor coffee-growing landscapes, identify forest loss, and facilitate restoration efforts. Beyond environmental protection, the initiative is structured to safeguard the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by ensuring they can prove compliance with evolving international trade standards.

Collaborative Mapping and Landscape-Scale Action

The Coffee Canopy Partnership represents a shift from fragmented, company-specific sustainability programs toward a unified, landscape-scale approach. According to Laurent Sagarra, VP of engagement at JDE Peet’s, the initiative is intended to strengthen collective action rather than serve as a new certification scheme.

The primary objective is to reduce the risk of coffee-driven deforestation over time by providing transparent data that is available to all industry participants, including governments and smallholder cooperatives.

Pilot Phase and Regional Expansion

The initiative has commenced with an East Africa pilot program covering 1.2 million square kilometres. This initial phase spans several key coffee-producing nations, including:

• Ethiopia

• Tanzania

• Kenya

• Uganda

• Burundi

• Rwanda

Following the pilot, the partnership intends to expand its mapping capabilities to all coffee-growing regions globally by 2027. This expansion will require broader industry and institutional investment to maintain and scale the geospatial platform.

Addressing Regulatory Challenges and Smallholder Risks

The program directly addresses critical mapping challenges associated with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Under current EUDR requirements, coffee harvested from land classified as forest after December 2020 is prohibited from entering the European market.

The partnership noted that inaccurate land classification previously posed a significant risk to smallholder farmers, particularly those utilising shade-grown and agroforestry systems. These farmers often faced exclusion from export markets due to a lack of verifiable data regarding their land use.

To mitigate this risk, the project is developing two distinct datasets:

1. Baseline Map (2020-2021): Establishes the extent of coffee cultivation during the EUDR baseline period.

2. Updated Map (2024-2025): Highlights potential new production areas and tracks forest changes since 2020.

Global Backing and Institutional Support

The Coffee Canopy Partnership is supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and has received endorsement from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). By feeding data into an open geospatial platform, the partnership aims to provide the wider coffee sector with the tools necessary for sustainable planning and long-term forest protection.