Brazilian Coffee Research Project Adopts Regenerative Farming Techniques for Sustainability

Introduction

On August 1, 2025, Skylight Consulting Co., Ltd., based in Minato, Tokyo, and its joint applicant, Value Way Co., Ltd., from Kobe, Hyogo, announced that their project focusing on regenerative coffee research through circular regenerative agricultural techniques has been approved for funding under Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) new funding program for Fiscal Year 6.

The approved project aims to verify the technical and economic feasibility of utilizing underutilized organic materials from the coffee value chain—from pruning branches to export—by carbonizing these wastes into high-quality biochar, which is then recycled back into agricultural soil. This innovative agricultural approach intends to address the pressing environmental issues faced in Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer, where emissions from waste and soil degradation present significant challenges.

Project Objectives

The project is orchestrated as a feasibility study (FS) focusing on the following objectives:

Utilizing Underutilized Resources

By transforming waste generated during coffee production into biochar, the research will scientifically verify improvements to soil health and reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Promoting Data Visualization

Employing Value Way’s "Regenerative Coffee Platform (RCP)" integrated with compact telecommunications devices, such as NFC tags, the project seeks to improve transparency in production and distribution data.

Environmental and Economic Impact

The utilization of underused resources through biochar and regenerative agriculture is not only expected to lessen environmental burdens but also to create a more economically viable supply chain. The project aspires to develop a model that aligns sustainability with profitability, contributing significantly to reducing the ecological footprint of coffee production while ensuring economic rationality.

Future Prospects

Skylight and Value Way, leveraging the outcomes of this research, aim to explore commercial possibilities in Brazil and evaluate potential expansion into other countries. The ultimate goal is to establish a globally viable model of sustainable supply chains through collaborative efforts in both countries.