Kenya has directed its tea factories to suspend ties with the Rainforest Alliance, saying the cost of ethical certification is too high for struggling smallholder farmers.
The government says the financial burden of maintaining the green frog label has fallen on growers rather than being covered by international buyers, as it should be. Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh argued that the scheme’s costs outweigh its benefits and announced an immediate suspension after an industry summit.
Kenya, the world’s third-largest tea producer, supplies about half the tea consumed in the UK. Yet a recent Fairtrade poll showed most Kenyan tea workers still don’t earn enough to meet basic needs.
The Rainforest Alliance, while not setting certification fees itself, relies on external audits that cost smallholder-run factories around $3,000 a year. The organisation says it’s working with Kenyan officials to find a resolution and has assured producers that existing certificates remain valid.
The government is considering a more affordable local certification model, while the Ethical Tea Partnership expressed hope for a quick solution, calling certification vital for fair treatment across the supply chain.
Driverless lorries are already rolling on highways between Beijing and Tianjin port, showing how China’s transport industry could change soon.
Colombia has cut deforestation by a third in early 2025, with the biggest progress seen in Amazon national parks.
As countries ramp up offshore wind farms to meet climate goals, scientists are warning about a growing issue: wind farms accidentally draining energy from one another — a phenomenon now nicknamed “wind theft.”
Rwanda has officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), citing political bias and obstruction by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic held regular political consultations in Prague, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry announced.
Driverless lorries are already rolling on highways between Beijing and Tianjin port, showing how China’s transport industry could change soon.
Colombia has cut deforestation by a third in early 2025, with the biggest progress seen in Amazon national parks.
As countries ramp up offshore wind farms to meet climate goals, scientists are warning about a growing issue: wind farms accidentally draining energy from one another — a phenomenon now nicknamed “wind theft.”
Kenya has directed its tea factories to suspend ties with the Rainforest Alliance, saying the cost of ethical certification is too high for struggling smallholder farmers.
Rwanda has officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), citing political bias and obstruction by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has confirmed it carried out a third targeted attack against the Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, early Tuesday morning, marking a new escalation in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
A strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture early Monday, causing no reported injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued, officials confirmed.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to speak this week to discuss recent trade tensions, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine ended abruptly in Istanbul on Monday, lasting just over an hour amid mounting tensions following a major Ukrainian drone strike on Russian strategic bombers and renewed pressure from the U.S. for a breakthrough.
Eid al-Adha, known as the "Festival of Sacrifice," stands as one of Islam's most significant celebrations, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah's command.
Driverless lorries are already rolling on highways between Beijing and Tianjin port, showing how China’s transport industry could change soon.
Rwanda has officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), citing political bias and obstruction by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic held regular political consultations in Prague, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry announced.
The UK government has pushed back its plans to regulate artificial intelligence by at least a year, opting instead to prepare a more wide-ranging bill covering both safety and copyright issues.
A 30-year-old woman was shot by police in Munich on Saturday evening after stabbing two people at Theresienwiese, a central park best known for hosting Oktoberfest.
Driverless lorries are already rolling on highways between Beijing and Tianjin port, showing how China’s transport industry could change soon.
Colombia has cut deforestation by a third in early 2025, with the biggest progress seen in Amazon national parks.
As countries ramp up offshore wind farms to meet climate goals, scientists are warning about a growing issue: wind farms accidentally draining energy from one another — a phenomenon now nicknamed “wind theft.”
Kenya has directed its tea factories to suspend ties with the Rainforest Alliance, saying the cost of ethical certification is too high for struggling smallholder farmers.
Rwanda has officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), citing political bias and obstruction by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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