Sri Lanka’s Halgolla certified as world’s first ‘regenagri’ certified tea estate
Daily FT: Kelani Valley Plantations (KVPL), a Hayleys Plantations company, announced a historic achievement with its “Triple Crown of World Firsts” event.
This milestone centers around Halgolla Estate, which has become the first tea estate in the world to achieve the highly prestigious ‘regenagri’ certificate for Regenerative Agriculture certification.
The announcement was made during a special ceremony attended by a prestigious gathering of dignitaries, industry professionals, sustainability experts and academics, including Hayleys Chairman and Chief Executive – Mohan Pandithage, Kingdom of the Netherlands to Sri Lanka and Maldives Ambassador Bonnie Horbach, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands – Sri Lanka Senior Policy Advisor of Agriculture Nishan Dissanayake and Mission Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka Deputy Head Katsuki Kotaro and Hayleys Plantations Sector Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai.
regenagri CEO, Franco Constantini, Control Union Chairman for the Asia region and Board Member Dirk Teichert, Managing Director- Sri Lanka and Myanmar, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Country Representative Roshan Ranawake, Dr. Shamen Vidanage and other IUCN officials, Senior Academia, and other industry representatives were present.
A panel discussion featuring Senior Academia moderated by Prof. Sandun Perera discussed the significance of implementing Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Methods (OECMs) and illuminated valuable insights about Halgolla’s unique biodiversity heritage, and pioneering conservation efforts. Their discussion spanned a variety of critical topics regarding the balance between revenue generation and conservation, and how estates like Halgolla hold the key to unlocking a new paradigm in environmental conservation for Sri Lanka and the world. A particular focus was the elevated form of tourism that Halgolla has pioneered which has the potential for global emulation and adoption.
Hayleys Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage said: “Our estates nurture rich natural resources, presenting a golden opportunity to unlock value and foster innovative concepts. Through sustainable diversification, we have the opportunity to empower communities, protect biodiversity, and fuel economic growth for our nation.”
“Kelani Valley Plantations PLC, a Hayleys Plantations company, has been steadfast in its focus on ethical plantation management. Halgolla has achieved a ground-breaking milestone: it is now certified with regenagri, making it the world’s first tea estate to receive this well-deserved, prestigious recognition. This pioneering initiative exemplifies our unwavering commitment to responsible business, earning respect both nationally and globally, setting a future-ready model for the industry locally, regionally, and globally.”
Halgolla’s regenagri certification was awarded after a stringent process, evaluating the estate’s approach to farming that has to adhere to a variety of factors, including preservation of soil health, encouraging biodiversity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and sequestering of CO2.
These audits, known for their rigour and critical nature, ensure full transparency and adherence to the highest environmental standards. The established program also provides farmers with access to additional funding through carbon credit markets and environmental subsidies.
Halgolla is piloting this groundbreaking project in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy and Wageningen University in the Netherlands.
Halgolla Estate has also set in motion plans to establish the world’s first biodiversity conservation and Knowledge Sustainability Centre concept on a tea estate. This initiative represents a significant step towards preserving the rich biodiversity of the region and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The estate’s efforts in implementing Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) are supported by Control Union, its sustainability auditors for the past 20 years. The rigorous environmental audit process conducted by Control Union is a testament to Halgolla Estate’s commitment to transparency and excellence in sustainability.
“The model of sustainability visible at Halgolla Estate is a prime example of the potential of plantation estates in the country. With the country’s renewed vigour towards tourism, combined with Hayleys’ focus towards value addition, Halgolla is leading the way for what we envision the future of the plantations industry to be,” said Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s tea industry is on a growth path with local authorities focused on tea produced in Sri Lanka regaining the top slot enjoyed by Ceylon Tea in the international market. The Sri Lankan government has also introduced incentive schemes for investors in the tea industry to uplift and strengthen operations in the industry. The many trade agreements as well as trade concessions enjoyed by Sri Lanka with other countries have also helped boost local tea exports. The business potential in the tea industry is evident by the promotion of the industry’s history in Sri Lanka along with the country’s steadily growing tourism industry. The world renowned Pekoe Trail is one such example of the increasing global attraction towards the tea industry. The increasing prices fetched by locally produced tea is also a positive sign. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore explore the growing opportunities in the tea industry while also looking at forming collaborations with local businesses with the aim of further expansion.