Airbus Defence and Space has been selected as technical partner in the Coffee Canopy Partnership.
This groundbreaking initiative led by JDE Peet’s, one of the global leading coffee companies (owning brands like L’Or, Senseo, Tassimo, Jacobs, Douwe Egberts…) aims to create the world’s first comprehensive, open map of coffee plantations to support deforestation-free and resilient coffee supply chains.
The Coffee Canopy Partnership brings together world’s main coffee traders and roasters Louis Dreyfus Company, Sucden, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, Touton, Sucafina, and Tchibo, with the support of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
By combining Pléiades (50 cm) and Pléiades Neo (30 cm) satellite imagery with advanced artificial intelligence models trained by Airbus on large datasets, coffee plantations can now be identified and monitored from space at a level of detail previously thought unattainable. These models have been deployed across multiple countries in East Africa, covering more than 1.2 million km² of diverse and complex landscapes (shade-grown and agroforestry systems). These maps will empower governments, local communities, and coffee industries to identify deforestation risk, support landscape restoration and protect the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers.
“The Partnership is designed to move beyond fragmented, company-led deforestation initiatives by fostering collaboration at a landscape scale – supporting efforts to map and safeguard coffee-growing regions, not just individual supply chains. This is not another certification scheme; it is a sector-led initiative aimed at strengthening collective action to help keep forests vibrant and reduce the risk of coffee-driven deforestation over time. We warmly invite all players in the coffee sector to join us” Laurent Sagarra, VP Engagement at JDE Peet’s.
