ICB to help Bradford University in Tracebility

Chikamagalur, July 16: University of Bradford of UK has come forward to have tie up with Indian Coffee Board to find a solution to Tracebility, which has become a challenging task for Coffee Scientists.

Tracibility identifies the origin of the coffee produce including the way of cultivation, breeding of plants, use of pesticides and fertilisers or whether it was grown in organic farming.

In the export market, mainly in the West, the buyers were very specific on the antecedents of a coffee breed and better portraying can help India boost its coffee exports.

Indian Coffee Board Chairman G V Krishna Rau told the sources that the University which had been working for the last 20 years on Tracebility has sought Board's help in its research and in principle it has been agreed to extend all cooperation.

"The University would be funding the research and other activities needed, the Board would help with the technical know how developed by our scientists", he said.

He said that Tracebility was an important issue in boosting sale of Indian Coffee in the international market and the tie up with Bradford University would also benefit projecting the Indian coffee better.

Replying to a question he said that the issue was under initial stage and an agreement may be reached after knowing the University's requirements.

Two Scientists from the Bradford University, who had participated in the India International Coffee Industries Conference held in Bangalore in February this year, had expressed their intention and it was being examined by the Board.

Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh, who was on a tour of Coffee Growing Districts of Karnataka during the last three days to interact with the growers, urged the Board to sign up with the university to take up research in traceability.

"We have done Tracebility with regard to Wine and Grapes and it has really helped to improve export sales, he told reporters who accompanied him during the tour."

UNI