By Andrew Laidley
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – The ministry of agriculture and fisheries is employing the use of technology to protect the brand integrity of Jamaica’s renowned Blue Mountain Coffee, says minister, Floyd Green; blockchain technology will be leveraged to ensure that consumers worldwide can verify the authenticity of their coffee purchases.
“Probably the thing that I’m most excited about is how this year we’re going to be using technology to not only be able to trace where every single ounce of Blue Mountain Coffee comes from but to tell the story behind it,” minister, Green, speaking at the launch of the Blue Mountain Coffee Festival 2025 on January 9, at Devon House in Kingston.
Minister Green highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by counterfeit products, noting that “because we have the best coffee in the world, people try to use our product to pass themselves off as the best coffee in the world”.
To combat this issue, each batch of Blue Mountain Coffee will now feature a unique Quick Response (QR) code that consumers can scan.
This code will provide detailed information about the coffee’s journey from farm to market, including its origin, harvest date and processing details.
“When you buy Blue Mountain Coffee anywhere in the world, you will be able to scan that QR code and it will tell you that this is authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee,” minister Green explained. “By so doing, not only are we protecting our revenues but we’re also ensuring that these new European Union (EU) standards [for agriculture] that have come about that speak to deforestation are met.”
The EU standards focus on environmental sustainability, performance and fairness.
“We will be able to fulfil those requirements to show that the best farmers in the world use the best practices in the world,” minister Green expressed optimism for growth in Jamaica’s coffee sector as a result of these advancements.
Minister Green stressed that this initiative marks a significant step forward in preserving the legacy and reputation of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee on the global stage.
Meanwhile, the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival is set to return on March 1, 2025, at Hope Gardens.
