To address these challenges, MCS engaged stakeholders across the supply chain to identify key emission sources and implement targeted reduction strategies. This effort began with a comprehensive mapping of the Robusta coffee supply chain in Tanzania, covering all stages from farms to dry mills. To monitor GHG emissions over time, MCS developed a customised GHG calculator and organised training sessions for local data collectors, field officers and farmers to ensure accurate data collection and promote transparency. We established a baseline GHG calculation, and the project partners used it to develop an improvement plan with defined emission-reduction measures. MCS supported the development by consulting the client about the feasibility of the measures. In addition to emissions monitoring, the project focused on improving soil health and enhancing productivity through targeted trainings in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), as well as preparing producers for the 4C carbon footprint certification scheme.

Before the project began, limited data existed on the carbon footprint of smallholder coffee farms in Tanzania, and farmers were largely unaware of how their practices contributed to national emissions. For example, farmers primarily transported the coffee to the next step in the supply chain by motorbike. Following a dedicated workshop provided by MCS and 4C with the Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Society and local farmers, a shared-vehicle system was established for transport. In addition, poor soil conditions, increasingly erratic rainfall patterns and inconsistent fertiliser use—with access to organic manure varying across clusters depending on local availability—resulted in low productivity and variable emissions per kg of coffee.

To address these underlying issues and build long-term capacity within the supply chain, the project invested in training and infrastructure that supported sustainable agricultural practices. MCS provided farmers with hands-on instruction in soil sampling, record keeping and agroforestry techniques, as well as GAP, including mulching, stamping and pruning. The project established a nursery with a capacity of approximately 400,000 seedlings to expand agroforestry systems, contributing to long-term carbon sequestration and providing shade and microclimate benefits for coffee cultivation. The seedlings also support diversification of farm-level incomes by integrating fruit trees and other complementary crops. These efforts strengthened local technical knowledge and laid the foundation for continued environmental stewardship.