Where does the coffee we drink come from? How can we be sure it is not grown on deforested land? To answer these questions, major industrialists and international traders are launching a global mapping of coffee plots to help producing countries meet new European standards. Using high-resolution satellite images, it is now possible to identify each coffee plant growing among the trees, plot by plot. Seven of the world’s largest coffee groups have teamed up with Airbus to map all the plantations worldwide and ensure they do not lead to deforestation.
The tool developed by Airbus uses artificial intelligence to analyze billions of satellite photos, making it possible to map all coffee plots on the planet. This initiative is crucial, especially in East Africa where coffee farms are highly fragmented. The mapping project, called “Canopée Project,” will be updated every one or two years and provided for free on an open and transparent geospatial platform accessible to producers and governments.
This initiative has been well received by industry players in Ethiopia, where a digital traceability system is already in place. These essential tools are being put in place less than a year before the new European rules on deforestation come into effect. These rules are scheduled for implementation in December 2026 for large producers and June 2027 for smaller ones.
