Lumbini Tea Valley Ceylon signs strategic regenagri partnership with Solidaridad

Lumbini Tea Valley Ceylon, Solidaridad, and Nucleus Foundation teams

Officials from Solidaridad, Nucleus Foundation, and Lumbini Tea Valley Ceylon with MoU for regenagri carbon insetting

Solidaridad Asia Managing Director Dr. Shatadru Chattopadhayay

Krishan Katyal of Solidaridad in conversation with Lumbini Tea Valley Ceylon MD Chaminda Jayawardena

• Landmark initiative to drive climate-smart agriculture in Sri Lanka

Lumbini Tea Valley Ceylon Ltd., recognised for having won over 152 international awards since 2012 and widely regarded as one of the most awarded tea brands in the world, has strengthened its sustainability leadership by signing a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Solidaridad Network Asia and its Sri Lankan partner Nucleus Foundation.

In 2024, Lumbini became the world’s first to achieve regenagri group certification, marking a pioneering milestone in regenerative agriculture for the global tea sector. Building on this achievement, and with an unwavering commitment to sustainability, the company will now, with the support of Solidaridad, expand its efforts to include a comprehensive carbon insetting program, adoption of advanced regenerative farming practices, development of robust chain of custody systems, introduction of innovative agri-tech for soil, water and biodiversity monitoring, and targeted market promotion of regenagri-certified teas – reinforcing its position as a leader in climate-smart agriculture.

The partnership will continue to align Lumbini’s operations with the regenagri standard; the most widely adopted regenerative agriculture certification globally. regenagri CiC is equally owned by farmers, businesses, and civil society, with over 2.2 million hectares under certification in 2024 and a further 3 million hectares in process for 2025, all eligible for carbon sequestration claims. The standard not only meets prevailing sustainability requirements but also prepares producers for emerging global regulations such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

Under the MoU, the parties will implement joint programs across 1,100 hectares of Lumbini’s tea and agroforestry operations. 

The focus will be on:

• Soil fertility enhancement through composting, cover cropping, and reduced tillage.
• Water resource management via rainwater harvesting and mulching.
• Establishing biodiversity corridors and ecosystem restoration.
• Promoting social inclusivity through gender-responsive planning and engaging smallholder farmers.
• Market-oriented actions will include developing chain of custody systems, promoting regenagri-certified products in domestic and international markets, and conducting consumer awareness campaigns to highlight the value of regenerative tea.

The collaboration will also see the creation of pilot sites under the regenagri Carbon Program, baseline carbon assessments to quantify sequestration, and the generation of Carbon Removal Units (CRUs) under the regenagri carbon standard. Lumbini and Solidaridad will explore market opportunities for verified carbon credits, including engagement of smallholder farmers in carbon markets.

Through its European offices and in partnership with regenagri, Solidaridad will advocate for Sri Lankan regenerative tea in international markets, raising awareness among buyers, consumers, and industry stakeholders of the ecosystem services delivered by Lumbini’s plantations.

Lumbini Tea Valley Ceylon Ltd., Managing Director Chaminda Jayawardana said: “Being the world’s first group to achieve regenagri group certification was an important milestone for Lumbini and for Sri Lanka. This new partnership with Solidaridad and Nucleus Foundation allows us to take the next step – moving beyond certification into carbon insetting, regenerative best practices, and innovative market engagement. It strengthens our environmental stewardship while ensuring our teas remain competitive and desirable in international markets.”

Solidaridad Asia Managing Director Dr. Shatadru Chattopadhayay said: “Lumbini Tea Valley’s leadership in achieving the world’s first group regenagri certification demonstrates how Sri Lanka’s tea sector can set new global benchmarks. This MoU is not just about certification, it is about transforming tea value chains to be climate-resilient, market-ready, and future-proof in the face of tightening global sustainability regulations. Solidaridad’s technical expertise and international networks, together with the implementation capabilities of Nucleus Foundation, will support Lumbini in unlocking opportunities in high-value markets and tapping into carbon finance. This will strengthen the competitiveness of Sri Lankan tea in a rapidly changing global economy.”