The Rainforest Alliance has unveiled a new Regenerative Agriculture Standard, a certification designed to help coffee farmers and companies restore ecosystems, strengthen livelihoods, and meet growing consumer demand for sustainable products.
Starting in early 2026, certified regenerative coffee will carry a distinct seal, signalling the consumers that their purchase supports farms committed to improving soil health, biodiversity, water management, climate resilience, and farmer livelihoods. While the certification is launching with coffee, it will expand to cocoa, citrus, and tea.
The announcement comes amid mounting challenges for global agriculture, including extreme weather, environmental degradation, and volatile commodity markets which greatly affects smallholder farmers.
Founded as a global nonprofit, the Rainforest Alliance works in 62 countries, partnering with millions of farmers, companies, and communities.
“Markets need to move beyond a ‘do no harm’ mindset to one that repairs and restores,” said Julius Ng’ang’a, Senior Director for East and Southern Africa at the Rainforest Alliance. “Every cup of coffee should give back more than it takes from the land and the people who care for it.”
Regenerative agriculture, a climate-smart farming approach, has been shown to increase farmer incomes by up to 30 percent. Independent auditors will verify compliance with the new standard, and only then may companies display the new regenerative seal.
For brands, sourcing certified regenerative coffee offers a chance to strengthen supply chains, enhance Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, and build trust with sustainability-conscious consumers. Coffee companies are already preparing to put the first certified products on shelves in 2026, sourcing from farms in Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
With this new certification, the organisation says it aims to accelerate its goal of reaching 100 million farmers and workers by 2030.
By Mutai Kipngetich
