Asia Tea Alliance unites for sustainable tea future at 2024 Summit

Sri Lankan delegation at ATA

Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai

Solidaridad Managing Director Dr. Shatadru Chattopadhayay

Panel discussion on smallholders chaired by Plantation Industries Ministry Additional Secretary – Policy and Operations Tharagani Wickramasinghe

Media briefing at ATA

• Sri Lankan delegation highlights pioneering sustainability interventions
• Next Asia Tea Alliance Summit scheduled to be held in SL next year

The Asia Tea Alliance (ATA) meeting and Asia International Tea Summit 2024 brought together industry leaders, apex associations, and Tea Boards from Asia’s major tea-producing nations, convened by Solidaridad Asia and the Indian Tea Association to champion a sustainable and equitable tea industry. 

The Sri Lankan delegation included Plantation Industries Ministry Additional Secretary – Policy and Operations Tharagani Wickramasinghe, Director General – Policy Sujanthi Mayadunne, Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai, Tea Small Holdings Development Authority (TSHDA) Deputy General Manager Saman Rathnayake, Nucleus Foundation Director Dave Maurice, and Consultant Yajith De Silva.

The ATA’s vision for a sustainable, economically viable tea sector was central to the discussions, emphasising enhanced living and working conditions for tea workers, fair returns for producers, and a consistent supply of high-quality tea for global consumers. The ATA meeting welcomed the Sri Lanka Tea Board and the TSHDA as new members joining the Planters’ Association of Ceylon, a founding member, in reinforcing Sri Lanka’s role in the alliance.

The event marked strategic decisions, including Africa’s emergence as a new tea market, a shared stance against genetically modified tea, and a commitment to regenerative agriculture to combat climate change, adhere to green legislations, and sequester carbon.

Chief Guest regenagri CEO Franco Costantini, the world’s largest regenerative agriculture certification standard, reinforced the industry’s shared vision for sustainable tea production.

The Summit that followed featured discussions on key challenges and innovations in tea production. Wickramasinghe chaired ‘Technical Session II’, exploring the hurdles and opportunities for small tea growers across Asia. Mayadunne presented ‘Golden Tip into Golden Currency: Establishing Quality Benchmarks for Sri Lankan Tea’, highlighting Sri Lanka’s commitment to maintaining high tea standards. Rathnayake shared insights on the pivotal role of the TSHDA in supporting smallholders.

Sri Lanka earned special recognition for two groundbreaking achievements: Halgolla Estate of Hayleys Plantations became the world’s first tea plantation to obtain regenerative agriculture certification, while Lumbini Tea Factory attained the first group regenerative agriculture certification for its tea smallholder growers. Regenerative agriculture, which improves soil health, boosts biodiversity, and ensures long-term sustainability, featured prominently as a model for responsible farming.

The Summit provided a forum for ATA members to exchange insights, address regional challenges, and collaborate on shared objectives as outlined in ATA’s manifesto. Representatives from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, and China joined industry specialists and scientists to discuss carbon trading, fair pricing, and technology-driven quality enhancements, furthering the ATA’s unified path towards a resilient tea sector.

“Tea is a cornerstone of rural economies in Asia, but the challenges we face today require collaboration and innovation,” said ATA Chairperson Hemant Bangur.  

“Through ATA, we aim to promote sustainable practices, drive economic growth, and ensure that all stakeholders – especially small tea growers – benefit from a more equitable tea industry,” added Solidaridad Asia Managing Director Dr. Shatadru Chattopadhayay.

The event concluded with a press conference attended by leading media outlets, spotlighting the commitment to a unified and sustainable future for the tea industry. Nucleus Foundation coordinated the participation of the delegation, working closely with Government and private sector stakeholders to strengthen Sri Lanka’s representation and commitment to sustainable tea practices.

The next Asia Tea Alliance Summit is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in 2025.