Speciality Coffee Association of America presents 2007 Sustainability Award to POABS ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC ESTATE. POABS is the first company from India to receive this prestigious Award. As Speciality Coffee Association of India President Ashok Kuriyan says: “In the world of coffee cultivation, this is equivalent of the Nobel Prize”.
The speciality coffee association of America (SCAA) the world’s largest coffee trade association with member companies from more than 40 countries, declared POABS as the winner of the Sustainability Award- 2007. The Award honours individual, business and organizations in the coffee industry that have created innovative projects to expand and promote sustainability. The 2007 Sustainability Award winner was recognized before 10,000 coffee professional at the SCAA’s 19th Annual Conference & Exhibitions, May 5th, at the Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California.
As Part of its mission, the SCAA is actively involved in the issues relating to Sustainability and looks to its members to take leadership role in sustainable practices. This year an impressive total of 23 members came to the final round from around the world.
“We are overwhelmed by the innovative sustainability programs taking place in the speciality coffee industry” said Phyllis Johnson, Chair of the SCAA Sustainability Committee. “However, this year’s 2007 Sustainability Award winner have undertaken outstanding measures to include social, economic and environmental development into their programs. They have also enhanced the long-term sustainability of the Coffee industry by improving conditions for the people depending on coffee for their livelihood. We encourage others in the coffee industry to follow their lead.”
POABS ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC ESTATES is an exemplary global model for sustainability. It is an example of holistic, self-sustainable, bio-diverse eco-system. Workers and their families’ benefits from housing, education, dairy farms and medical care. Coffee is planted under a double canopy of shade with much of the original jungle trees intact.
As a result, the bird-life on this estate is an ornithologist’s delight. There are 52 check dams constructed in the estate to conserve water. Revetment walls have been constructed to prevent soil erosion. Also, POABS Organic Estate is one of the very few organizations worldwide certified “BIODYNAMIC” plantations certified by Demeter-International (Germany). They are certified organic by the USDA National Organic Program (USA), Naturland (Germany) and by Control Union (Netherlands). POABS ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC ESTATES also conforms to ISO 9001:2000 and JAS (Japan Agricultural Standards) Standards. Their Tea is fair trade certified by the Fair-trade labelling Organization (FLO)