Innovating to create a more circular coffee economy

In 2023, ofi and Starbucks embarked on a three-year project to convert waste from the coffee harvest on our Zambia estates into high-quality compost and biochar (similar to charcoal powder), to be applied back on the farms to improve soil health and plant growth.

This project aims to understand how the introduction of biochar could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coffee production while improving fertilizer use efficiency. The biochar feedstocks can consist of parchment skins, dried coffee pulp, and woody materials from pruning coffee plants. A high-quality kiln with a continuous feedstock conveyer system allows pyrolysis of the coffee waste at high temperatures (>300C) and low-oxygen environments.

This first phase tests different mix ratios of biochar, compost and fertilizers for maximizing its beneficial effects. We apply these mixtures to newly planted as well as mature coffee fields, monitoring closely how the crop responds and the resulting emissions.

The project will run over three crop cycles until the end of 2026, with sufficient data to determine the optimal use of biochar in field applications for healthy coffee yields with a lower carbon footprint - learnings that farmers and customers alike could benefit from.

With sustainability experts embedded in farming communities and our ingredients capabilities, the opportunities for innovation are everywhere. For example, in Mexico, we are experimenting with extended fermentation to elevate the cup quality of washed Arabicas, while our field teams are training farmers on Climate-Smart Agriculture and wastewater management to drive down emissions as part of the Alliance for Sustainable Landscapes and Markets. – Siva Subramanian, Head of Innovation, Coffee, ofi