Normas Voluntárias de Sustentabilidade (NVS) e implicações sobre as exportações de produtos do agronegócio : CAFÉ

The objective of this study is to analyze issues related to international coffee certification and to verify the advantages of increasing certified production, from the point of view of access to markets and price differentiation. At first, information was created on world and national production, exports and main consumer markets for Brazilian coffee. Subsequently, the main certifications for coffee were discussed, highlighting the area (ha) and production (metric tons) certified and the main requirements for obtaining each certification. Finally, some issues were raised based on contacts with the market about the challenges and opportunities of certification for coffee in Brazil. In general, the results obtained allow us to conclude that certification brings several benefits to coffee producers. There is the direct benefit that is related to the price increase (premium price) and other indirect ones, such as adding value through measures that seek to mitigate environmental and social risks, improvement in the production structure, improvement in cost management, openness to international market, better quality of life, receiving technical assistance, adding value to the property by making adjustments to its infrastructure, among others. Some issues need to be raised for debate with regard to certifications, such as the cost of obtaining seals, the large number of certificates that may have the same objectives and that end up confusing the consumer, the competition between certifiers that may end up making the requirements to attract more producers and the involvement of certified farms in "greenwashing" and "bluewashing" practices.