KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC—The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is using technology to protect the brand integrity of Jamaica’s renowned Blue Mountain Coffee.
Minister Floyd Green said blockchain technology will be leveraged to ensure that consumers worldwide can verify the authenticity of their coffee purchases.
“Probably the thing that I’m most excited about is how this year we’re going to be using technology to not only be able to trace where every single ounce of Blue Mountain Coffee comes from but to tell the story behind it,” he said at the launch of the Blue Mountain Coffee Festival 2025.
Minister Green highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by counterfeit products, saying, “Because we have the best coffee in the world, people try to use our product to pass themselves off as the best coffee in the world.”
To combat this issue, each batch of Blue Mountain Coffee will now feature a unique Quick Response (QR) code that consumers can scan.
This code will provide detailed information about the coffee’s journey from farm to market, including its origin, harvest date, and processing details.
“When you buy Blue Mountain Coffee anywhere in the world, you will be able to scan that QR code and it will tell you that this is authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee,” Green explained.
“By so doing, not only are we protecting our revenues, but we’re also ensuring that these new European Union (EU) standards [for agriculture] that have come about that speak to deforestation are met.”
The EU standards focus on environmental sustainability, performance, and fairness.
“We will be able to fulfill those requirements to show that the best farmers in the world use the best practices in the world,” the agriculture minister added.
He expressed optimism for growth in Jamaica’s coffee sector due to these advancements.
Green stressed that this initiative marks a significant step forward in preserving Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee’s legacy and reputation on the global stage.
