The Orfeu Cafés Especiais farms have just received the Rainforest Alliance Regenerative Agriculture Certification. Orfeu is the first Brazilian brand to achieve the new seal from the international organization, which verifies a system of practices that prioritize the regeneration of soil, water, and biodiversity, in addition to focusing on climate resilience.
Throughout its 20 years, Orfeu has valued the development of responsible agriculture and the maintenance of natural reserves on its farms. Ricardo Madureira, CEO of Orfeu, explains that since its founding, the company has implemented methods such as managing soil cover with natural spontaneous herbs, preventing soil exposure, and using organic compost to reduce chemical fertilizers. "Caring for the environment and caring for people is an intrinsic part of what we believe and operate at Orfeu. In this sense, agriculture that respects the environment is something we have always pursued throughout our history. More recently, with regenerative agriculture, we studied the criteria and understood that a series of practices on the farms fit perfectly into the concept."
Orfeu's farms had previously obtained socio-environmental certifications from UTZ Certified in 2004, and from Rainforest Alliance in 2014 and 2018. The brand's olive oil production was also certified by Rainforest Alliance in 2023, making it the first olive oil operation in the world to receive the seal.
Orfeu's Regenerative Agriculture Practices
Regenerative agriculture seeks to create a lasting and sustainable system, focusing on the recovery and improvement of essential natural resources. By prioritizing these criteria, it promotes environmental and human health, ensuring a more resilient ecosystem. Among Orfeu's practices are:
- Cover cropping: prevents erosion, runoff of fertilizers and pesticides, and minimizes high temperatures.
- Soil decompaction: improves rainwater infiltration.
- Diversification of the cultivation system.
- Strengthening functional biodiversity: promotes a favorable environment for natural enemies and pollinators.
- Water containment box: prevents flash floods.
- Reduction of chemical fertilizers: use of organic compost generated on the farms themselves.
- Drip irrigation.
- Limitation of pesticide and herbicide use.
- Habitat planning for plants, animals, and other wild organisms.
- Reduction of water consumption in coffee processing.
- Preservation of streams and springs, in addition to maintaining 1/3 of the farm area as preserved forest.
- Planting native trees that favor the presence of animals and insects.
What is Regenerative Agriculture Certification?
The new Rainforest Alliance certification aims to develop producers and companies to build more resilient livelihoods and restore ecosystems in tropical landscapes.
Yuri Feres, director of Rainforest Brazil, highlights the importance of Orfeu's achievement: "The Regenerative Agriculture Certification achieved by Orfeu represents an important milestone for the coffee sector in Brazil. More than a seal, it symbolizes a concrete commitment to soil restoration, biodiversity valorization, and climate resilience. For us at the Rainforest Alliance, it is a source of pride to see a leading Brazilian company adopt the new standard, paving the way for other producers and brands to follow suit." Although initially available only for coffee, Rainforest will continue to expand its certification to other crops, such as olive oil.
Learn more in the Globo Rural article.