Rainforest Alliance presented the new standard of Regenerative Agriculture for farms that meet a comprehensive set of requirements by September 8. Nespresso will be the first brand to acquire certified regenerative coffee and one of the first coffees will come from Yamileth Chacón's farm in Costa Rica. Other farms in Costa Rica and Mexico They have also received certification and will soon feature the new regenerative seal. The seal will begin appearing on Nespresso coffees starting in 2026.
The threat that climate change poses to coffee is clear: rising global temperatures cause unpredictable weather events and favor the proliferation of pests and diseases. Thirty-three percent of the Earth's soils are already degraded, and more than 90% are likely to be degraded by 2050. But agriculture has the opportunity to help restore essential functions of nature while improving farmers' livelihoods. This is what the regenerative agricultureIn addition, regenerative practices, such as planting shade trees, can improve the quality of fine Arabica coffee, which is especially sensitive to temperature fluctuations and irregular rainfall patterns.
Yamileth Chacón, a coffee producer from Costa Rica, He said, “With regenerative agriculture, you can see a change. When you work with trees, you see more flora, more greenery, and more animals.” For nearly 40 years, the Rainforest Alliance has collaborated with farmers, businesses, and communities around the world to promote sustainable agriculture. Brand recognition of the Rainforest Alliance spans the globe: 1 in 3 consumers report being familiar with the brand in the United States, and 5 in 6 in the United Kingdom. More than 50% say they tend to trust a product that bears the Rainforest Alliance green frog seal more (IPSOS, 2025).
Over the past few years, the organization has worked with farmers, partners, and experts to develop its new Regenerative Agriculture standard. Initially available for coffee, the standard aligns with international and local requirements for environmental labels. new certification seal It is designed to help businesses and farmers measure regenerative outcomes, build climate resilience, and excel in a rapidly evolving regulatory and consumer landscape.
Santiago Gowland, Executive Director of the Rainforest Alliance, stated: “Based on four decades of experience in sustainable agriculture, the new Regenerative Agriculture standard combines scientific rigor with proven regenerative practices tailored to specific crops and regions. Our goal is to accelerate the transition to a new model of agriculture, one that helps protect, restore, and regenerate the ecosystems on which we all depend. The new seal will help consumers support this transition by identifying certified products from farms that adopt regenerative methods. For farmers, it offers recognized third-party validation of their efforts, greater market access, and increased value for their coffee, while supporting a more resilient future for both people and nature.”
The Rainforest Alliance aims to support 100 million farmers and workers by 2030 with more sustainable livelihoods and regenerative practices.
Nespresso is the first coffee brand to source Rainforest Alliance-certified regenerative coffee.The first Nespresso coffees to carry the new regenerative seal will go on sale in 2026. Jérôme Perez, Nespresso's Director of Sustainability, said: “We are proud to be the first brand to source Rainforest Certified regenerative coffee. It symbolizes our commitment to creating balanced, resilient, and productive landscapes within our supply chain, which is essential if we are to protect the future of the world's quality coffees and the communities that depend on them. I hope this consumer-focused seal will encourage other brands to support coffee farmers in a large-scale regenerative transition, while also making consumers more aware of the benefits of purchasing products from farms that have implemented regenerative agriculture practices.. "
Nespresso's transaction marks an important milestone in its collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance, which began more than 20 years ago when the Rainforest Alliance collaborated on the creation of the Nespresso AAA SustainableQuality™ Program. In 2022, Nespresso supported the Rainforest Alliance in the creation of the Rainforest Alliance Regenerative CoffeeScorecard, which established a framework for small coffee farms to transition to regenerative agricultural practices and laid the groundwork for the new standard.
