Volcafe RS Standard

The criteria in this chapter focus on enabling producers to run farms as a profitable business, using practices that build resilience and improve economic well-being. The chapter’s control points address topics including good agricultural practices, access to information and services, farming as a business, continuous improvement, quality pricing, and traceability. A number of the chapter’s control points also relate to Volcafe’s engagement with producers involved in the responsibly sourced value chains. Optional Sustainability Impact Services from Volcafe can create tailored approaches to work toward living income.

Continuous improvement (CRITICAL CONTROL POINT)
Volcafe works with producers (groups) to identify non-compliances and/or poor practices, and to implement action plans with corrective actions that allow the shortcomings to be mitigated or overcome. Continuous improvement is a constant element of addressing all the other topics in the Volcafe RS Standard.

Good Agricultural Practices
Producers are supported – often via trainings and advice – to adopt farming techniques that improve farm performance, coffee quality and the regeneration of their farms.

Access to information
Producers have access to information that is essential for sustainable farming, including prices, offers for services, and avenues for accessing finance.

Access to services
Producers are able to access extension services, agricultural inputs, and financing opportunities.

Farming as a business
Producers use business principles such as cost analysis and record-keeping, with the aim of improving farms’ profitability and sustainability.

Producer register
Volcafe records demographic, geographical and production information about producers and their farms, to document and support assurance of the Volcafe RS Standard.

Internal inspection
Volcafe periodically assesses its own implementation of the Volcafe RS Checklist, identifying areas where improved practice can also benefit producers who engage with Volcafe.

Complaints mechanism
Producers and workers can safely raise concerns through formal channels (local and global), with assurance that Volcafe will address and follow up on concerns using a standardised procedure.

Quality pricing
Producers have access to local prices and price mechanisms, and receive payment that reflects the quality of their coffee.

Good governance
Volcafe actively works to prevent corruption, fraud, bribery, and/or extortion in the value chains, to the benefit of all parties including producers.

Traceability
Controls are used to ensure that coffees are traced back to the supplier directly delivering the coffee to Volcafe, and traced forward to Volcafe clients.

The criteria in this chapter focus on enabling producers to maintain productive farms while safeguarding the local ecology. The chapter’s control points address topics including deforestation, biodiversity, renovation and rejuvenation, integrated pest management, soil management and conservation, climate change adaptation, harvest and post-harvest practices, water resources, energy use, and waste management. Optional Sustainability Impact Services from Volcafe allow a customised approach to carbon sequestration and the implementation of regenerative agricultural practices in specific value chains.

Deforestation (CRITICAL CONTROL POINT)
Producers do not deforest or convert forests for coffee farming since 2014. Ecosystems at their farms are protected, and where suitable, reforestation efforts are undertaken by producers.

Integrated pest management (IPM) (CRITICAL CONTROL POINT)
Producers use only nationally permitted pesticides and do not use those on the GCP Prohibited List. Producers use integrated pest management to control pests, diseases, and weeds, and keep records or report on pesticide use.

Biodiversity
Producers take steps to safeguard biodiversity, including keeping up-to-date maps of their farms, avoiding hunting and plant trafficking, and prohibiting the use of GMOs.

Renovation and rejuvenation
Producers regularly stump/prune or replant coffee fields to maintain coffee productivity.

Soil management and conservation
Producers take appropriate steps to improve soil fertility, replenish soil nutrients, and manage soil erosion.

Climate change adaptation
Producers are aware of climate change impacts and take steps to improve resilience of their farms.

Harvest and post-harvest
Producers keep equipment and facilities clean and in good condition, store coffee well, and share guidance with workers on hygiene practices.

Water resources
Producers make careful use of water in irrigation or processing, and take steps to prevent water pollution.

Energy use
Energy use for farming and processing is monitored and reduced where applicable.

Waste management
Producers sort and safely dispose of waste, re-using organic matter to improve soil. Wastewater from processing is treated and any discharges into the local ecosystem meet applicable laws.

The criteria in this chapter focus on enabling men and women to obtain productive work in freedom, equity, security, and human dignity. The chapter’s control points address topics including discrimination, child education and protection, forced labour, freedom of association, contracts, wages, working hours and overtime, worker heath and housing, occupational health and safety, use of agro-chemicals, gender equity, and land rights. Optional Sustainability Impact Services from Volcafe create opportunities to promote living wages and gender equity in targeted value chains.

Child education and protection (CRITICAL CONTROL POINT)
Children under 15 (or legal school age) attend school, and no children below age 18 engage in hazardous work or worst forms of child labour.

Freedom from forced labour (CRITICAL CONTROL POINT)
Any type of forced labour, extortion, abuse, or retention of documents or money is prohibited.

Freedom from discrimination
All workers are treated equally, without discrimination in hiring or employment terms, and the workplace permits no forms of abuse or harassment.

Freedom of association
Workers can establish and join organisations of their choosing without interference, and regular consultations are held between employer and worker representatives.

Gender equity
Access to trainings for female workers and producers is promoted and tracked.

Contracts and wages
All workers understand their employment conditions and receive (at least) minimum wages. Permanent workers receive written contracts.

Working hours and overtime
The regular work schedule is limited to 48 hours per week, with some exceptions during extraordinary circumstances. Overtime is voluntary and in line with applicable laws.

Worker health and housing
Workers have access to clean toilets and hand washing facilities, potable water, and first aid kits. If worker housing is provided, it is safe and clean.

Occupational health and safety
Workplace risks and hazards are identified and minimised, and regular training is provided to producers and workers about these.

Safe use of agro-chemicals
Agro-chemicals are safely applied by people wearing protective equipment, and certain people (young, pregnant, nursing) are prohibited from applying them. Re-entry times after use are respected. Agro-chemicals and empty containers are safely stored and disposed of.

Land rights
The legitimate right to use the land is demonstrated by official documents.

The Volcafe RS Standard is developed for applicability in a variety of settings, and at times local or national legislation may either exceed or fall short of the criteria in the Standard. In the case that applicable legislation is stricter than a requirement in the Volcafe RS Standard, such legislation will prevail. In the case that applicable legislation is less strict than a requirement in the Volcafe RS Standard, the requirement in the Standard will prevail.