The Coffee Board has invited public consultation on its draft sustainability certification framework, aiming to address a critical gap in recognition for India’s coffee sector despite the country’s adherence to sustainable practices across over 400,000 small and marginal holdings.

The Indian Coffee Board Sustainability Certification Scheme (INDICOFS), developed by a Core Technical Committee comprising domain experts, introduces a voluntary three-tier compliance system designed to progressively align Indian coffee producers with international sustainability standards.

Bridging the Recognition Gap

The sector is integral to the livelihoods of approximately two million individuals, with farms situated in high biodiversity regions, notably the Western and Eastern Ghats. These regions provide essential ecosystem services and are home to numerous major rivers, underscoring the critical role that coffee cultivation plays in environmental stewardship.

Despite adherence to sustainable agricultural practices integrating social, economic and environmental dimensions, the Indian coffee industry has not achieved recognition commensurate with its quality and production methods. While global demand for sustainably certified coffee has increased, only approximately 15% of India’s total coffee output is currently certified under sustainable certification criteria.

INDICOFS Framework

In response to the need for a coherent sustainability framework, the Coffee Board has developed INDICOFS—a set of sustainability standards tailored to the Indian context. The standards acknowledge best practices implemented by Indian coffee farms and facilitate a structured approach for continual improvement, ensuring sustainability across the coffee value chain.

The scheme covers two phases. The first phase addresses “Sustainability Standards for Indian Coffee Plantations,” while the second phase focuses on “Chain of Custody Standards.” The framework encompasses sustainability standards, inspection procedures and certification protocols.

The certification system defines three compliance levels:

Level 1 (Basic/Self-Assessment): Provides foundational requirements for growers to evaluate practices and identify improvement opportunities, overseen by Coffee Board inspections

Level 2 (Aspiring/Auditing): Outlines criteria for third-party verification, ensuring compliance and facilitating progression beyond basic practices

Level 3 (Benchmarked Best Practices): Delineates advanced sustainability benchmarks assessed by recognized auditing bodies, signifying alignment with international standards

Implementation and Oversight

Implementation of INDICOFS will be managed by the Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI), functioning under the administrative control of Coffee Board of India, recognized as one of the oldest public coffee research institutions globally.

The standards are designed to address the evolving landscape of coffee production, including critical issues related to trade, environmental sustainability and preservation of traditional farming practices. A key innovation is INDICOFS’ holistic integration of responsible production methodologies with practices that enhance climate adaptation and minimize ecological footprints.

The standard addresses critical Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aspects essential for sustainable coffee farming and incorporates general disclosure requirements aimed at providing stakeholders with transparent, relevant and comparable information about production operations.

Public Consultation Invited

The Coffee Board has posted the draft INDICOFS scheme along with an overview note on its website for wider consultation. Stakeholders and members of the public are invited to review the documents and share their views, comments and suggestions.

Comments must be submitted in the prescribed format (Annexure-I) by email to dirresh@gmail.com with a copy to drccri2022@gmail.com on or before October 24, 2025.

“The Coffee Board values your feedback and cooperation in this important national initiative to position Indian Coffee as a global benchmark for sustainability,” the board stated.

By adopting this standard, coffee producers can demonstrate compliance with recognized sustainability benchmarks, enhance their marketability and contribute to the global movement toward sustainable agricultural practices. The initiative is expected to foster collaboration among coffee producers and stakeholders to promote a resilient and sustainable Indian coffee industry while improving the long-term viability of coffee farming and quality of life for communities involved in the supply chain.