The objective of CRECER is to provide a framework to generate changes in the production systems of Racafé's coffee suppliers, based on a progressive process of continuous improvement, leading them towards sustainable practices in the social, environmental and economic factors associated with coffee production.
To guarantee the future of the producers, through the conservation of the soil, water, surrounding biodiversity and the communities that accompany them. Producers, buyers and consumers assume a serious commitment to the protection of the environment, the conservation of the social structure of coffee growing areas and the promotion of a fair and inclusive market.
CRECER is applied to: coffee producers that supply us throughout the country (small and individual producers, including large farms applied to all our suppliers) and warehouses in the Racafé supply chain. Producers who are part of a group or organization are evaluated individually within the program and registered as such.
The CRECER Standard covers different aspects of environmental, social and economic interest to coffee growers.
It covers the aspects of: Biodiversity, Soil Management, Organic Waste, Inorganic Waste, Pesticide Management, Waste Water, Ecosystem Services, Climate Change.
It covers: Socialization, Associativity, Training, Research and Development, Intergenerational, Food Security, Working Hours, Working Conditions and Infrastructure.
Analyzes the use of by-products, diversification, crop plan, business plan, bonus, fertilization, fermentation, drying.
This initiative contemplates the CRECER Internal Sustainability Standard as an internal monitoring system to evaluate the coffee farms according to how sustainable they are and route them to help in the ongoing improvement processes.
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The method used allows a simple comparison of different systems and their progress, through the application of indicators, which show us a factor, a variable or an observation using them as a unit of measurement, to determine whether there has been a direct or immediate effect on an activity to be evaluated and evidence its progress.
Its implementation is voluntary. To begin with, minimum fundamental criteria (MFC) must be met, which are related to compliance with international agreements on labor conditions and environmental protection. Then there is a set of indicators covering social, environmental and quality aspects throughout the cultivation, post-harvest and commercialization stages.
With its application, it is possible to evaluate the progress of the implementation of good sustainable practices in the medium and long term, allowing to take into account the efforts made during the improvement processes and the understanding of sustainable concepts.
RACAFÉ offers it free of charge to all its suppliers, using a proactive and participative language that highlights the positive actions being taken by Colombian coffee growers.
Read the Management Statements
The sustainability criteria of the standard are developed by an external agent and validated by the CRECER committee, which is composed of representatives from the areas of 1. Field Team, 2. Sustainability, 3. Trading. Annually the CRECER committee reviews the validity of the criteria of the framework. Depending on the needs, the CRECER Committee may decide to make changes as long as their level of requirement is at least aligned with the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code developed by the GCP in its current version. Interested parties may make comments, contributions and suggestions on the CRECER standard and its criteria; these will be forwarded to the CRECER Committee for evaluation. They will be taken into account in the standard version revision processes and feedback will be given to stakeholders at the time of the annual review.
RACAFÉ's field team of technicians provides general support to supplier coffee producers throughout Colombia to accompany them in a process of continuous improvement towards sustainability. As a prerequisite, all farms comply with the 7 Fundamental Minimum Criteria. In addition, the coffees of the CRECER program come from farms that have received a visit to evaluate their level of sustainability according to our indicators in the three environmental, social and economic areas; the second part of the CRECER program involves the realization of follow-up visits by our team whose programming is based on a risk analysis. Racafé's technical team decides which farms can enter/remain in the CRECER program.
Read Sustainability Reference Code
Over the years, we have been committed to reducing the environmental impact of our operations and providing Colombian coffee growers and coffee associations with better conditions.
Sustainability Reports and Policys
To express your concerns and suggestions about the operation of the CRECER, including your opinions about evaluation results and compliance decisions, we are here to listen and assist you.
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Experiences
In Colombia there is coffee production all year round; there is a main season and a less abundant one, but the quality of the product does not change.
News
In February 2022, Racafé became the first private green coffee trader in the country to receive AEO accreditation
News
Colombian coffee is appreciated worldwide for its characteristic smooth and pleasant flavor.
Projects
Racafé decided to provide our coffee growers with biosafety kits to protect their well-being and that of their families
News
in 2018 this solar plant was inaugurated, making Racafé a pioneer in the export of coffee produced with renewables energies.
Experiences
Racafé got a call from Belco to be part of the inaugural return voyage of the Anemos from Santa Marta, Colombia, to its home port in Le Havre in France, loaded with hundreds of tons of Colombian coffee.
Noticias