Nairobi, Kenya| Over the past three years, the governments of Kenya and Italy have been working collaboratively to rejuvenate Kenya’s coffee sector through the ARABIKA Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening cooperative governance, improving coffee quality, and expanding market opportunities.
With a €3 million investment from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the project has engaged more than 30,000 coffee farmers across seven counties, laying the groundwork for a more competitive and sustainable coffee industry.
A Transformative Initiative for Kenyan Coffee
Speaking at the ARABIKA Coffee Day 2025 event in Nairobi, Giulio Di Pinto, a representative from AICS, emphasized the project’s pivotal role in repositioning Kenyan coffee on the global stage.
According to him, the ARABIKA initiative was designed in close collaboration with the Kenyan government to support coffee farmers in overcoming structural challenges and improving their access to high-value international markets.
“We have worked tirelessly across the entire coffee value chain, engaging farmers, cooperatives, and industry experts to enhance the quality and marketability of Kenyan coffee,” Di Pinto stated.
The project, launched in 2021, has focused on four key areas: strengthening cooperative governance by enhancing transparency, efficiency, and leadership within coffee cooperatives; facilitating market expansion by creating direct linkages between Kenyan coffee farmers and international buyers; integrating technological advancements, such as blockchain-based traceability systems, to ensure coffee quality and authenticity; and promoting value addition by encouraging local coffee roasting, grinding, and packaging to maximize earnings for farmers.
Empowering Farmers Through Technology and Innovation
A significant milestone achieved by the ARABIKA Project is the digitization of over 30,000 coffee farmers using blockchain technology.
This innovation enables consumers to trace coffee origins, providing transparency and enhancing the value of Kenyan coffee in the international market.
David Cheboryot, Director of Entrepreneurship Centres at e4Impact Foundation, underscored the importance of technology in transforming the sector.
“The world now demands traceable products. Through blockchain, we have digitized thousands of farmers, ensuring transparency and authenticity in Kenya’s coffee industry,” he said.
Beyond digital traceability, the project has also focused on strengthening market linkages.
Representatives from 21 cooperatives have participated in global coffee expos, where they have directly engaged with potential buyers and roasters interested in sourcing Kenyan coffee.
Branding and Value Addition: A New Era for Kenyan Coffee
Recognizing the need to enhance local branding, the ARABIKA Project has supported the creation of distinct coffee brands for seven counties, helping cooperatives develop unique brand identities based on flavor profiles, heritage, and regional characteristics.
David Cheboryot noted that his team worked closely with stakeholders to craft branding strategies that would elevate the recognition of Kenyan coffee in global markets.
Additionally, the project has encouraged local value addition by promoting roasting, grinding, and packaging at the cooperative level.
This shift aims to reduce dependence on the traditional export of raw green coffee beans, allowing Kenyan farmers to capture more value from their produce.
Sustainability and Climate-Smart Practices
Sustainability has been a core focus of the ARABIKA Project, with initiatives aimed at climate-smart agricultural practices to boost coffee production.
According to Noah Kirui, ARABIKA Project Manager, the program has facilitated the renovation of seven coffee laboratories in Murang’a, Embu, Nyeri, Machakos, Meru, Kiambu, and Bungoma, which now serve as training hubs for farmers.
“By incorporating climate-smart agricultural technologies, we have helped farmers improve yields while ensuring long-term environmental sustainability,” Kirui stated.
The project has also facilitated exchange visits for farmers, allowing them to learn best practices from other coffee-producing regions, and has consolidated farmer data into a digital platform to enhance visibility and improve their market positioning.
ARABIKA Coffee Day 2025: A Celebration of Progress
On March 14, 2025, the ARABIKA Project hosted the ARABIKA Coffee Day, an event dedicated to showcasing the impact of the initiative and the excellence of Kenyan coffee.
The event featured coffee tasting sessions that highlighted premium Kenyan coffee from the 21 cooperatives, panel discussions on sustainability, quality enhancement, and emerging market trends, as well as networking opportunities for farmers, exporters, policymakers, and coffee enthusiasts.
The panel discussions explored key themes, including engaging youth in coffee farming by encouraging younger generations to take part in coffee production and value addition, expanding coffee markets beyond traditional export destinations to reduce reliance on a few key buyers, promoting innovation in coffee cooperatives through climate-smart technologies, and adopting quality-based pricing strategies by encouraging cup profiling to help cooperatives negotiate better prices.
Additionally, the discussion emphasized the need for a revolving fund to address liquidity challenges and provide financial support to coffee cooperatives.
David Cheboryot summed up the event’s success, stating, “Sustainability doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it requires strong partnerships like the ARABIKA Project to create lasting change.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of Kenya’s Coffee Sector
As the ARABIKA Project reaches its conclusion, stakeholders remain committed to ensuring that its impact endures.
Di Pinto reaffirmed the Italian government’s ongoing support for Kenya’s coffee sector, emphasizing that future investments will build upon the strong foundation laid by ARABIKA.
“Our commitment to Kenya’s coffee industry will not stop with this project. We plan to expand our efforts and invest further in value chain development,” he said.
With its focus on sustainability, innovation, and market expansion, the ARABIKA Project has set the stage for a new era in Kenyan coffee production—one where farmers are empowered, value addition is prioritized, and Kenyan coffee continues to shine on the global stage.
“Kenyan coffee isn’t just a drink; it’s an experience—bold, rich, and deeply rooted in tradition.”
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