Kenya is poised to become the first African country to certify its tea as low-carbon, a move that could potentially double its export earnings and significantly improve the livelihoods of nearly 700,000 smallholder tea farmers. This pioneering initiative seeks to align Kenya’s tea industry with global climate accountability standards, promoting sustainability while enhancing economic returns.
The low-carbon tea certification is part of a $5 million pilot project focused on assessing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the tea value chain. By targeting tea one of Kenya’s top foreign exchange earners the project aims to sustain production, protect the environment, and most importantly, improve incomes for smallholder farmers who form the backbone of the industry.
A key innovation in this effort is the use of blockchain technology to ensure transparency and traceability. This digital ledger system will track sustainable farming and processing practices, enabling consumers anywhere in the world to trace their tea back to the exact farm where it was grown under verified low-carbon methods. This level of accountability not only builds consumer trust but also adds value to the product in global markets.
Kenya’s Tea Development Agency, which manages 71 tea factories across 21 counties, plays a vital role in implementing the certification program. Kenya already benefits from a relatively low-carbon framework due to limited pesticide use and the adoption of climate-smart agricultural techniques. However, climate change threatens productivity, with estimates suggesting a possible 20% decline if no action is taken. To counter this, many tea factories are embracing renewable energy solutions such as solar power, biomass briquettes, and hydropower, alongside automation and off-grid power generation to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The shift towards sustainability marks a transformational moment for the country’s tea sector, which supports over seven million Kenyans directly and indirectly. The economic implications are significant: export revenues could potentially increase from the current 215 billion Kenyan shillings to as much as 440 billion over the next five to ten years. Furthermore, farm gate prices may rise from 64 to 90 shillings per kilogram, offering a substantial income boost to smallholder farmers and stimulating rural economies.
This low-carbon certification effort not only positions Kenya as a leader in sustainable tea production but also sets a blueprint for other African countries to follow. The collaborative nature of the initiative, involving stakeholders from across the continent and beyond, highlights its potential to transform tea industries globally by balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship.
