Tchibo has clearly communicated its goal: From 2027, only responsibly sourced coffees are to be offered. The Hamburg-based coffee roaster is now expanding its coffee programme once again: in addition to projects in six countries of origin (including Brazil, Guatemala and Vietnam), Kenya will be added as the seventh country. The new coffee project in the Kirinyaga region on Mount Kenya builds on a long local Tchibo history: The first major Mount Kenya project started back in 2010, and Tchibo is working on the ground with local partners and cooperatives to make coffee cultivation more resilient and strengthen the livelihoods of farmers.

Kenya is one of the best-known coffee origins in East Africa. The volcanic soil and altitude around Mount Kenya offer excellent conditions for the coffee plant. At the same time, the challenges are clear: climate change, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity and low farm incomes. This is precisely where the project in Kirinyaga comes in, with the aim of increasing productivity and quality, diversifying income and specifically involving women and young people.

In Kirinyaga, Tchibo works together with the Inoi Farmer Cooperative Limited, supported by Rainforest Alliance and Ibero Kenya (NKG).

The Inoi cooperative has around 5,000 active members. In particular, youth and women's groups are to be supported. Specifically, the project trains so-called "lead farmers" and employees of the cooperative. They then pass on the knowledge they have learned to neighbours and other farmers. That is exactly what it means:

The official project launch in June brought together almost 1,000 coffee farmers, youth and women's groups as well as relevant stakeholders in the coffee sector. In August, farmer training sessions were held in cooperation with the Kenyan Coffee Research Institute (CRI). In addition, over 2,000 soil samples were recently collected from farmers and analysed. Quality training for employees of the cooperative on wet processing and regular refresher training for the lead farmers are currently scheduled for harvest time.

"Our collaboration with the Inoi cooperative and other partners such as Tchibo reflects the revitalised interest of Kenyan communities in coffee farming. This collaboration will contribute to a sustainable increase in coffee productivity, improving people's livelihoods and protecting the environment." William, Ibero Kenya (NKG)

Together with farmers and strong local partners, Tchibo develops suitable programmes for the respective country of origin. The aim is that by 2027, all coffee purchased by Tchibo will come from regions in which environmentally friendly and socially responsible cultivation practices are continuously being developed. The effectiveness of the measures is monitored and verified by the independent organisation Enveritas. Since its launch, well over 13,000 farms in nine countries (six countries with a coffee programme plus three countries with a partner programme) have been reached: in Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Tanzania, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Uganda and Indonesia.