AHMEDABAD – Key figures in the tea industry gathered in Ahmedabad, India, on Wednesday to discuss the future of better practices in the sector.
The event was organized by UTZ Certified, a program and a label for sustainable farming in coffee, cocoa and tea, and it brought together the leaders, intermediaries and regulators of the tea industry on a single platform.
The event focused on conversations about food safety and need for standardization in the tea industry.
Highlights of the panel discussion included:
- Consumers in emerging markets such as India show an active interest in sustainability.
- Key industry drivers in India in particular are raising consumer awareness and increasing health and safety standards.
- Need for a robust regulatory system that will help the tea industry to track and streamline the business from farm to cup.
Shri. Arvind Shah, Chairman of Gujarat Traders, said the event comprised a panel discussion on the need for “enhancing value for the tea sector, consumers and society through sustainability and effective standardization practices.”
Daan de Vries – Markets Director at UTZ Certified, said, “Globalization in the food business means that distribution systems are becoming ever more integrated and interrelated, and this means there is a need for technological innovation and assurance of good practices. Standardization will act as a strong pillar to prepare the industry for the demands of future consumers. We need to work towards a global agenda that will address the needs of businesses, consumers and society,” de Vries concluded.
About UTZ Certified
UTZ Certified is a program and label for sustainable farming of coffee, cocoa and tea.
Its mission is to create a world where sustainable farming is the norm. The UTZ program enables farmers to learn better farming methods, improves working conditions and takes better care of people and the environment.
The compliance with UTZ’s strict requirements by farms and businesses is closely monitored by independent third parties. More information at: www.utzcertified.org.
On tea:
- UTZ tea is grown in 10 countries worldwide.
- Over 130 producers and partners in the market are working on the UTZ
- You can drink UTZ tea in 27 countries.
- Over 45,000 tea workers are benefitting from UTZ certification.
Source UTZ Certified
