The EU imported 130,000 tonnes of unroasted organic coffee in 2019 (+11.6% vs 2018), or 3.5% of its overall unroasted coffee imports. At Belco, the share of organic coffees in our volumes has increased by 15% per year since 2018 and the number of references has increased from around fifteen to almost 200 (Organic, Biodynamic, Decaf). More than just a trend, organic represents a sustainable way of producing that is in line with current environmental issues.
Today, the consumer is faced with a wide variety of production methods and ideologies, all under the same label, the organic label. When it comes to imported products, the consumer is even more lost. What control is carried out by the certification bodies? Do the products follow the same standards as French products? How can we ensure that a product is truly organic?
For organic imported products, there is no specific pesticide residue limit in European standards, it is the limits applicable to conventional products that are retained, the MRLs (Maximum Residue Limits). The latter are calculated according to daily doses and health effects. The absence of residue limits established for organic products leaves a certain flexibility and allows for cross-contamination to be tolerated without affecting the producer. This tolerance, although sometimes beneficial for the producer, leads to abuses. The absence of fixed standards favors the largest players in the market with high negotiating and defense power in the face of a dispute with the certifier.
In order to answer consumer doubts and reduce the environmental impact of coffee production, Belco supports producers and works to reduce the use of pesticides. To do this, at Belco we control our imports as much as possible, with total traceability and demanding quality control. The work of our sourcing, quality and field teams allows us to implement reasoned practices in order to rediscover the ideals of organic farming and offer a real alternative to the current production method. With our certifier and in agreement with our suppliers, our specifications establish precise residue limits and the various actions to be implemented in the event of contamination.
Negative results: No action.
Results below 0.010 mg/kg: These coffees are processed internally and with the producer. The producer is directly informed when traces of residues are found and work on traceability and alternative proposals is carried out with the team of field engineers.
Results between 0.010mg/kg and 0.020mg/kg: A second analysis is carried out, if the result is equivalent, the coffee is downgraded, our certifier informed, and field work is carried out.
Results above 0.020mg/kg: The coffee is blocked and a second analysis is carried out, if the result is equivalent, the coffee is downgraded, our certifier informed, and field work is carried out. With these results, the certifier conducts a thorough investigation to study the sources of contamination.
The advice of field engineers and quality engineers aims to reduce these contaminations and make them disappear during harvests. We also aim to support farmers wishing to convert to organic farming, residue analyses and the identification of sources of contamination are very beneficial tools during transition periods. Following the analysis of the results obtained and the implementation of solutions, some positive coffees last year present analyses free of all traces of residues during this year's harvest. This is the case for certain Peruvian coffees on which work on traceability, identification of contaminations and implementation of solutions has taken place. As cross-contamination by neighboring plots is frequent, plant barriers are put in place to compensate for it. These cases highlight the importance of agroforestry and the establishment of barriers to control erosion and runoff.
The analysis of all Microlots also made it possible to identify the plots where the contaminants were present and not to add them to our Terroir coffees. A single plot can contaminate an entire batch and cause major problems for a large number of producers in the event of loss of certification.
Agroecological practices such as agroforestry, varietal selection, reasoned management of grass cover and biodiversity once again demonstrate their interest and represent useful alternatives to the use of synthetic products and their propagation. The solutions proposed to each producer following each positive analysis make it possible to increase knowledge and the circulation of information between sourcers, engineers and producers.
FOCUS ON 3 CONCRETE CASES FROM OUR COFFEE IMPORTER BELCO:
Ethiopia
The birthplace of the Arabica coffee tree, Ethiopia surprises with its coffees with unique flavors and organoleptic profiles. Ethiopian production systems lead to these singularities. These production systems are based on wild and endemic varieties (called Heirloom), ancestral agricultural practices and unique shaded terroirs and environments (forest coffees®). Ethiopia produces organic coffees by nature, only accessibility to certification is difficult. For Belco, their ancestral production methods are completely in line with organic specifications and the Belco specifications. Of all the Ethiopian coffees analyzed since 2019, none showed traces of residues. Belco also ensures the absence of pesticide residues on the forest coffee® range. In the future, in order to increase producers' income and promote their practices, Belco wishes to facilitate access to certification. Why not get you involved?
Mexico, Finca Irlanda
Finca Irlanda is the first Demeter-Biodynamic certified coffee farm. It has been certified since 1963. This year Belco has decided to import 160 bags from Finca Irlanda. The goal for the future is to support Finca Irlanda in improving quality and to train in biodynamic practices alongside them.
Guatemala, La Bolsa – Encuentros plot
Renardo Ovalle de Vides 58 shares BELCO's philosophy and the desire to work with sustainable practices. With our field engineer, Marjorie Canjura, they left more than two years ago to train with our partner COMSA in the Marcala region of Honduras on organic farming. Since then, more than 15 ha have been converted to organic farming, this year 96 bags were imported. These coffees are free of pesticide residues and are on track to be certified within a year.
Conclusion :
Reducing the use of pesticides and promoting alternative agricultural practices are in line with Belco's objectives for promoting healthier, more environmentally friendly and more profitable agriculture for producers. Once again, agroecological and sustainable practices are presented as the only solutions for reducing inputs and increasing the sustainability of the sector. Just as traceability and quality analysis make it possible to offer consumers a transparent product that meets their expectations.
Jean Etchats, Belco quality manager and bio analysis project manager