News Agriculture

Rainforest Alliance Updates Certification to Tackle New Sustainability Risks

Rainforest Alliance Updates Certification to Tackle New Sustainability Risks
Thursday, 22 May 2025 13:26
  • New version 1.4 of the Sustainable Farming Standard launches October 2025
  • Focus on deforestation, climate, livelihoods, and EU regulatory compliance
  • Two million producers in West and Central Africa benefit from the program

The Rainforest Alliance has announced a major update to its agricultural certification program, aiming to strengthen sustainability across global value chains. The new framework was presented in Abidjan in response to evolving international regulations and rising challenges linked to deforestation, climate change, and hardships facing farming communities.

At the core of this update is version 1.4 of the organization’s Standard for Sustainable Farming, which will take effect in October 2025. The revised standard simplifies existing requirements by removing non-essential elements while retaining those deemed most effective. The NGO noted that future audits will be more targeted to ease the workload of farmers, auditors, and supply chain actors.

Data collection has also been streamlined, with a centralized indicator system and upgraded digital tools and training. These adjustments are based on feedback from farmers and companies currently using the certification platform.

In parallel, the Rainforest Alliance is launching three optional certification modules focusing on regenerative agriculture, climate, and livelihoods. These modules can be integrated into the main certification or used independently, allowing farmers to highlight specific practices and enabling businesses to document environmental commitments.

The update is partly driven by the need to help companies comply with the European Union’s new Regulation Against Deforestation (RDUE). This rule prohibits the sale of products such as cocoa and coffee in the EU if sourced from land deforested after December 2020.

To address this, the Rainforest Alliance has incorporated RDUE-aligned criteria into its platform. Producers may adopt these criteria voluntarily. The organization also offers AI-powered remote sensing tools to monitor deforestation risks and a traceability system for certified products, all provided at no additional cost to producers.

In West and Central Africa, home to much of the world's cocoa cultivation, the organization estimates that around two million farmers and agricultural workers benefit from its program. In Ghana’s Sui River region, the Alliance is actively supporting land regeneration, reforestation, and local economic development.

Studies cited by the NGO suggest that certified farms tend to achieve higher yields and better product quality compared to non-certified ones, although outcomes may vary. The Rainforest Alliance maintains that its certification system will continue evolving to meet both local needs and global sustainability demands.

On the same topic
• Algeria sets goal to raise date export revenues to $250 million per year• New plan aims to expand exports from 57 to 150 countries• Challenges...
• Ghana reduces 2024/2025 cocoa forecast to a maximum of 600,000 tons• Structural issues continue to affect output, including disease and climate change•...
• Nigeria posted Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest net cereal deficit in 2023 at $2 billion• Wheat and rice imports remain high despite local maize...
• Rwanda signs MoU with Cotti Coffee to raise global coffee market value• Deal includes building a Sino-Rwandan coffee demonstration park• Coffee...
Most Read
01

BCEAO lowers main rate from 3.50% to 3.25% effective June 16, 2025 Inflation eased to 2.3% in...

BCEAO Cuts Key Rate to 3.25% to Stimulate Regional Growth
02

AfDB raised $3 billion in a two-part bond issuance in U.S. dollars. The deal included th...

AfDB Raises First-Ever 10-Year Global Dollar Bond
03

IFC to acquire stake in KERA Health, an AI-based e-health platform in Senegal Funding to supp...

IFC Plans $10mln Investment in Senegalese AI Health Startup
04

• WAEMU’s inflation dropped from 2.2% in March to 1.5% in April 2025• BCEAO attributes the decline t...

WAEMU Inflation Rate Falls to 1.5% in April 2025
05

• Funding resumes after 2023 suspension tied to Uganda’s anti-LGBT legislation• Three new projects a...

World Bank Resumes Support to Uganda Despite LGBT Law Concerns
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

Benjamin FLAUX
bf@agenceecofin.com 
Téls: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72
Média kit : Download

EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.