Sustainability

– We are very focused on making our farm socially and environmentally sustainable, a continuous process that is at the heart of every decision that we take. There is an abundance of literature and debate surrounding the concept of sustainability but we look at it very simply: what do we think the consequences of our actions on the farm today will be in 10 years or even 20 years time? Our values when considering this question are equally simple: each year we want to be leaving the farm in an improved social, environmental and economic condition compared to where it was the year before.

How do we judge what is an improvement to the farm? For us this means providing better working conditions for the employees, through access to more secure jobs, healthcare services, education opportunities and raising the general level of living standards. We mean respecting, caring for and nurturing the beautiful environment around us, including protecting wildlife habitats, minimising water pollution and waste, reducing soil erosion and recycling waste where possible, or dealing with it appropriately. And we mean using modern but sensitive farm management and agricultural husbandry techniques that will allow for better coffee to be produced in a more efficient and stable manner.

The aim is to benefit ALL of the stakeholders in the farm today and in the future: the natural environment, the owners, the employees and community, and our fine speciality coffee-loving customers.

Objectives

Social

To improve the living conditions and life opportunities of our full time and seasonal workforce and their children through access to educational, healthcare and recreational facilities while they are on the farm. We aim to ensure working conditions exceed relevant minimum standards set by the Nicaraguan government and / or other agencies.

Environmental

To nurture and enhance the biodiversity of the farm, to protect areas of primeval rainforest and where possible invest in farming practices which reduce the need for inorganic inputs and a reliance on fossil fuels.

Economic

To balance the profit motive with the long-term interests of ALL of the stakeholders on the farm. We are committed to investing in Social and Environmental projects, but we can only do this if we can afford to do so.

Our Approach

If we get the coffee right, then the rest will follow… we believe that if we produce premium grade speciality coffee then this will give us the best chance to fulfil our wider objectives.

We aim to use the latest cultivation techniques to maximise quality and reduce the production volatility associated with older farming methods. We aim to reduce exposure to price volatility in the commodities markets by fostering direct links with speciality buyers who believe in the wider benefits of our approach and with whom we can form strategic long-term relationships. If we can successfully achieve these aims then this should remove some (but of course not all) of the risk associated with coffee production. This in turn will allow for greater financial stability that will ultimately enable us as a commercial enterprise to allocate resources more efficiently and to make the long-term investments needed to achieve our social and environmental goals.

Rainforest Alliance

Having spent much time considering our options, we eventually settled on Rainforest Alliance as the certification to pursue for Hacienda Sajonia. Rainforest Alliance certification is widely accepted as a benchmark of good practice and its goals are very much in line with those we are seeking to achieve. We achieved RFA certification in September 2014.