How to trace the origin of individual coffee to the origin of Serrado, Brazil, using QR code to trace the source

Traceability opens the door to better coffee quality and a fairer value chain. But the route from the farm to the cup is long and staffed: producers, millers, cooperatives, exporters, importers, roasters, coffee shops.

Can the solution lie in modern technology? The Serrado Coffee Growers Association thinks so.

In the professional producing areas of Cerrado Mineiro, Brazil, QR codes are used to provide buyers and final consumers with information about coffee crops, farms and factories. This is not the first time this technology has been used in coffee, but you usually only see it on a small scale. By contrast, the coffee farm in Serrado (Cerrado Mineiro) covers an area of 210000 hectares.

Why is traceability so important?

The third wave of coffee is to look for quality, sustainable coffee beans. The key is to know where and how a particular coffee is grown.

We now know that every element of coffee production affects the final drink, whether it's soil, altitude, microclimate and seasonality, coffee varieties, farming and processing methods, disease or other factors. If we could trace a cup of coffee to a farm, we would know more about it. We can learn more about how to bake it. We can taste the influence of all these elements in the cup.

And if we can trace it back to farms or specific batches of farms, we can also work towards fairer prices, greener processes and more social activities.

Brazil is one of the largest countries in the world-you can accommodate 80% of Europe within its borders-and this large region has changed a lot. In some areas, farms produce only about 30 coffee bags a year; in other countries, they produce tens of thousands. Some areas are famous for their high-altitude mountain coffee, which needs to be picked by hand. Others are famous for their flat farms and mechanization. Therefore, it may not be surprising that the country uses modern technology to ensure large-scale traceability.

Introduction of Brazil CERRADO MINEIRO

Cerrado Mineiro is a large area of the Minas Gerais state in southeastern Brazil. According to the Serrado Coffee Growers Association, it consists of 55 counties, 210000 hectares of coffee farms and 4,5000producers. It produces an average of 5 million bags a year, 1/4 of Minas Gerais's and 12.7% of Brazil's.

The farms in the area are located between 800 and 1300 Masra and are mainly flat. There is a clear season, which means that cherries usually ripen at the same time. Two factors mean that farms tend to harvest mechanically.

Coffee is famous for its strong aroma, aromas of caramel or nuts, soft citrus acidity, medium to full body and a long chocolate finish.

It is also the first region in Brazil to receive a protected mark of origin, which means that coffee marked "Serrado" must actually come from Serrado (similar to the rule to protect Spanish ham or champagne).

What does the name of origin mean?

Origin marking is one of the many steps to improve traceability in Cerrado Mineiro. In order to obtain the mark of origin of Cerrado Mineiro, coffee must be Arabica coffee growing more than 800 masl in the region (80 points or more). There are other requirements, such as a commitment to comply with Brazilian law, and cooperatives and warehouses must also sign this agreement.

However, the status of appellations of origin is related not only to traceability, but also to the quality and diversity of flavors. According to the website of the Cerrado Coffee Growers Association, "the mark of origin is divided into regions, and the products they produce have unique characteristics that cannot be found anywhere else."

Juliano Tarabal, director of the federation, told me: "Cerrado Mineiro has a local soil that is very suitable for the production of special coffee." A special beverage whose properties can only be achieved in the areas outlined. " The author translated from Portuguese into English. )

He also attributed the appellation of origin to the organization of the producer. The region's motto is "produce coffee with the right attitude: ethical, traceable and high quality".

I asked him what is the greatest perceived value of "mark of origin" status. Talabar said: "there is no doubt that this is the guarantee of origin and quality through the origin control system." It is a powerful protection tool that brings value through traceability. "