Olam International has secured Rainforest Alliance and UTZ certification for coffee plantations Aviv in Tanzania and the Northern Coffee Corporation (NCCL) in Zambia, which comprise more than 2,500ha of planted Arabica coffee.

With coffee plantations in Africa, South America, and Asia, Olam originates and exports coffee to multiple countries. Aviv includes a 2,000ha plantation in the Songea Rural District of Southern Tanzania, 1,025ha of planted Arabica coffee, and a wet mill processing facility.

Aviv expects to produce 1,600t of coffee from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms in 2017.

Aviv's volumes will be supplemented with a smallholder coffee programme, which currently has 1,665 farmers. Most of these are already covered by the Olam Livelihood Charter and will be supported for future certification schemes. At peak season, the Aviv plantation employs up to 1,500 people.

Olam's coffee plantations East Africa vice-president and commercial head Varun Mahajan said: “Tanzania and Zambia have exceptional growing conditions to produce fine Arabica coffee, but historically both countries suffered from limited investment, leading to lower volumes.

“By committing from the start to develop our plantations responsibly, and support surrounding smallholders to improve yields and income, we have been able to enhance the coffee production of both countries, putting them firmly on the coffee connoisseur map.

“The Rainforest Alliance and UTZ certification now gives our specialty coffee customers that extra layer of reassurance of third party verification on top of our consistent quality.”

Located at Kasama, in Zambia’s Northern Province, over 1,500ha has been planted, with a target of 2,700 ha. It employs 600 permanent members of staff increasing to 2,500 at peak season, has wet and dry mill processing facilities, and an outgrower programme supported by Olam.

NCCL is already the largest producer and exporter of coffee in Zambia and expects to produce 2,500t of Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee in 2017.

NCCL is the only plantation in the country with Rainforest Alliance and UTZ certification and is responsible for 88% of the country’s 900t total certified production.

Certification indicates the Rainforest Alliance Certified green frog seal and the UTZ logo can both be displayed on packaging.