Climate-smart Coffee Uganda

CBI's project Climate-smart coffee from Uganda aims to create an inclusive Ugandan coffee sector - a sector in which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and farmers can produce and export traceable, climate-smart coffee that meets EU standards.

For over 20 years, coffee has brought Uganda 20-30% of its foreign income. This makes Uganda one of the largest coffee producers in the world. The European demand for sustainably sourced and high-quality coffee is high. Meanwhile, climate change is affecting the coffee sector. And finally, the sector needs to meet new EUDR rules. So, CBI started the Climate-smart coffee from Uganda project.

Project goals

The main project goals are:

• Increase Uganda's export of traceable, climate-smart coffee to the EU;
• Support small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and farmers;
• Help SMEs meet new EU rules, like the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CS3D);
• Promote long-term, sustainable growth in the sector.

Approach

We want to achieve these goals by using the following approach:

• Effective public-private service delivery;
• Effective dissemination of information about climate-smart practices;
• Resilient SMEs, that grow their export of traceable, climate-smart coffee.

Project activities 

CBI supports small and medium-sized enterprises in achieving this. We do that by promoting and training Ugandan farmers to use climate-smart practices. We also help them make sure the demand is there from European buyers.

The project also wants to increase Uganda's coffee exports to the EU. It does this by:

• Improving services for farmers and businesses;
• Helping farmers deal with climate change;
• Building better trade relationships.

Project participants

• Ugandan coffee-exporting SMEs: These are businesses that grow and export coffee. They are interested in working with CBI to use more climate-smart methods. The participating businesses are;
  - Discovery Trading Ltd;
  - Fine and Speciality; 
  - Gorilla Highlands Coffee;
  - Ndugu Farmers Ltd;
  - Rubanga Cooperative Society Ltd.
• EU Importers: These companies import Ugandan coffee to Europe. They help ensure the coffee meets EU rules and supports fair and green trade;
• Service providers: Public or private groups supporting farmers and businesses. They all have different strengths. Working together makes their help more effective. Examples are microfinance institutes, banks, farm supply companies, or training services;
• Alumni from earlier CBI coffee projects: These are people or organisations that joined past CBI projects. The alumni have valuable experience and expertise in the coffee sector;
• Other stakeholders: These include local leaders, extension officers, private sector actors and others who join the project later. They help with plans and activities for climate-smart coffee growing and export.

Get involved as an importer

Are you a partner interested in contributing to climate resilience, sustainability and inclusivity of the coffee sector in Uganda? Contact CBI to get more information or to explore potential collaboration in this project.

Want to learn more?

Please contact us at agriculture@cbi.eu.