GCP’s global alignment process
on regenerative agriculture for coffee
GCP is leading a global effort to align the sector on regenerative agriculture in coffee production through a workstream called “RegenCoffee”. The goal is to provide the global coffee sector with a foundational guide containing the definition, objectives, principles and expected outcomes of regenerative agriculture for coffee, to facilitate collective action and avoid greenwashing. This process builds on GCP’s work to align the sector with a common language on coffee sustainability through the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code, and is being developed with input from GCP Members and other key stakeholders.
Why regenerative agriculture?
Regenerative Agriculture has been gaining momentum in the coffee sector as an approach to sustainable farming that emphasizes improving natural resources (particularly soil, biodiversity and water) and strengthening the resilience of farming systems against climate change and environmental degradation, contributing to farmer prosperity.
Several GCP Members and partners have already been incorporating regenerative agriculture into their work, but there are a multitude of approaches. The lack of a common definition and baseline understanding presents a critical barrier to scaling regenerative efforts for coffee sustainability.
Responding to this need, GCP is leading a collaborative effort to align the definition, principles and outcomes of regenerative agriculture for the coffee sector. This alignment looks to ensuring a resilient coffee supply with real benefits for farmers and nature, while mitigating risks of greenwashing and preparing for future regulations.
RegenCoffee Framework: Four-phased approach
GCP’s workstream for aligning regenerative agriculture for coffee, called “RegenCoffee”, has a four-phase approach, taking collaborating stakeholders from global alignment on definitions and concepts to integration into GCP Collective Action Plans in specific countries and contexts.
The first phase of the workstream focuses on creating a common language for RegenCoffee at the global level, building on the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code. The goal is to publish a comprehensive document containing RegenCoffee’s definition, objectives, principles and expected outcomes, which will serve as a foundational guide for the coffee sector.
This process has a farmer centric focus on defining common measurable outcomes and understanding for collective action and shared responsibility for all stakeholders. In addition, it creates the foundation for aligned measurement and monitoring towards increased sustainable production and consumption of coffee.
Phase one is guided by GCP’s Technical Committee, responsible for developing the guidance document; the RegenCoffee Advisory Task Force, which provides expert input and advice; and by GCP Members, who support with their perspective from across the supply chain. The GCP Secretariat facilitates the work with the support of an external consultant.
GCP Technical Committee
| Member | Organization |
|---|---|
| Jeremy Lefroy | Café Africa (Chair) |
| Dr. Álvaro Gaitan | Cenicafé |
| Cesar Candiano | Research |
| Anneke Fermont | Volcafé |
| Karugu Wa Macharia | Kenya Coffee Platform (KCP) |
| Kedar Nepal | 4C Services |
| Miguel Gamboa | Rainforest Alliance |
RegenCoffee Advisory Task Force
| Member | Organization |
|---|---|
| Mirjam Pulleman/Eric Rahn | Alliance Biodiversity – CIAT |
| Anne Grigg | Conservation International |
| Eduardo Sampaio | GCP Brazil |
| Francesca Pellis | illy |
| Hugo Stuurman | JDE Peet’s |
| Allie Stauss | Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) |
| Stefan Canz | Nestlé |
| Felix Stiegler | Neumann Kaffee Gruppe NKG |
| Piet van Asten | ofi |
| Franco Constantini | RegenAgri |
Principles of the RegenCoffee framework development
Farmer centric – ensure that the farmers’ context, experience, knowledge, realities and priorities are reflected. The value proposition is clear, and farmers express clear benefits from using it
Outcome focused – does not prescribe specific practices but achieve specific results/outcomes
Align, builds upon and complement existing initiatives – acknowledge other approaches and innovations and not reinvent the wheel
Continuous improvement – recognizing different starting points to drive progress and impact in line with the Coffee SR Code’s critical requirement “Continuous Improvement”
Ongoing learning – building the evidence base and sharing for collective action
Inclusiveness – provides a flexible roadmap for farmers to identify and achieve their prioritized outcomes, particularly for smallholders. It is designed based on their input and applied with their prior information on challenges and risks and their consent
GCP Public Consultation on RegenCoffee
To ensure that the RegenCoffee Framework reflects the realities and needs of diverse coffee stakeholders, GCP launched a global public consultation between 19 March and 15 April 2025. The consultation process drew broad participation from the member community and beyond, including academia, donors, and investors.
The public consultation provided feedback provided to the GCP RegenCoffee Consultation Draft, through two ways:
- Main survey with questions on the general aspects of the Consultation Draft.
- Additional survey focused on providing input on technical indicators.
The feedback provided through these surveys will inform further draft versions of the RegenCoffee Framework. Additionally, GCP will compile a high-level summary of input received, which will help guide the next steps of this process.
The guiding document will be presented at the GCP Member Assembly on 24-25 June in Basel, Switzerland, this will be an important input to the Coffee SR Code revision in 2026. The final RegenCoffee Framework will be published later this year.
Process Overview
Watch this video for an overview of the RegenCoffee workstream.
This overview covers the following aspects:
- Background and rationale of GCP’s RegenCoffee workstrem
- GCP RegenCoffee Consultation Draft Process
- RegenCoffee Framework and scope content
- Opportunities to provide input and feedback
GCP thanks the following organizations for supporting this work
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