India brews sustainability standards for coffee sector
he Coffee Board has put out the draft INDICOFS scheme on its website for wider consultation and has invited stakeholders’ comments and suggestions by October 24, 2025
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India will soon have its own sustainability standards certification scheme for the coffee sector.
The draft Indian Coffee Board Sustainability Certification Scheme (INDICOFS) is designed to address the evolving landscape of coffee production, trade and environmental sustainability issues, besides helping to preserve the traditional farming practices.
The Coffee Board has initiated the development of the “Sustainability Standards for Indian Coffee Plantations” in the first phase and the “Chain of Custody Standards” in the second phase. A core technical committee comprising domain experts has prepared the draft INDICOFS, covering sustainability standards, inspection procedures, and certification protocols.
The sustainability standard is designed to assist coffee growers, cooperatives, and collectives in adhering to recognised sustainability principles that align with global standards. It establishes a framework to enhance the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of coffee cultivation and production practices, besides addressing the critical environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects essential for sustainable coffee farming.
Comments deadline
The Coffee Board has put out the draft INDICOFS scheme on its website for wider consultation and has invited stakeholders’ comments and suggestions by October 24, 2025. INDICOFS is aligned with the Government of India’s vision of promoting local voluntary sustainability standards and fostering human-centric development.
India the seventh largest producer of coffees is the fifth largest exporter of the commodity. India exports over two-thirds of the about 3.5 lakh tonnes of coffees produced in the country annually. The Indian coffee sector encompasses over 4 lakh small and marginal holdings and the sector is integral to the livelihoods of approximately two million individuals. India’s coffee-growing regions are situated in high-biodiversity regions, notably the Western and Eastern Ghats, which provide essential ecosystem services and are home to numerous major rivers, underscoring the critical role that coffee cultivation plays in environmental stewardship.
Despite the adherence to sustainable agricultural practices that integrate social, economic, and environmental dimensions, the Indian coffee industry has not yet achieved the recognition commensurate with its quality and production methods, the draft said. While there has been an increase in the global demand for sustainably certified coffee, it is estimated that only approximately 15 per cent of India’s total coffee output is currently certified under sustainable certification criteria.
Voluntary framework
In response to the need for a coherent sustainability framework, the Board has developed INDICOFS, which is developed as a voluntary framework. The standard recognises the need for a structured approach to promote responsible agricultural practices, continuous improvement within the sector and contributes to the long-term viability of coffee farming and enhances the quality of life for communities involved in the coffee supply chain.
A key innovation of INDICOFS is its holistic integration of responsible production methodologies with practices that enhance climate adaptation and minimise ecological footprints. The implementation of INDICOFS will be managed by the Central Coffee Research Institute.
The INDICOFS scheme defines compliance at three levels. At the Level -1, the basic level includes foundational requirement for growers, which will be evaluated by Coffee Board-nominated inspectors who will issue a certification upon successful assessment. At Level 2 – the aspiring level involves criteria for third party verification to ensure compliance that goes beyond the basic practices. At Level 3, the benchmarked performance, sets advanced benchmarks for growers committed to implementing the world-class sustainability practices. The certification process will be managed by approved third-party Certification Bodies and applies to both individual growers and collectives.
Published on September 29, 2025
