Sri Lanka’s leading plantations embark on carbon and market-ready future with Solidaridad and regenagri

MoU signed between Aitken Spence and Elpitiya Plantations

Aitken Spence and Elpitiya Plantations teams 

MoU signed between Hayleys Plantations, Solidaridad, and Nucleus Foundation

Hayleys Plantations, Solidaridad and Nucleus Teams 

Five of Sri Lanka’s most respected plantation companies, Elpitiya Plantations PLC (Aitken Spence Group), Kelani Valley Plantations PLC, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, Horana Plantations PLC (Hayleys Plantations), and Lumbini Tea Valley Ceylon, a leading premium tea producer, have signed landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Solidaridad Network Asia and its Sri Lankan partner Nucleus Foundation to adopt the regenagri standard and implement a comprehensive carbon insetting program across their estates.

The MoUs were signed during a visit by a senior delegation of Solidaridad tea experts, including; Solidaridad Asia Managing Director, regenagri C.i.C Chairman and Asia Tea Alliance Convenor Dr. Shatadru Chattopadhayay, with over two decades’ experience shaping global sustainability standards, Solidaridad Global Lead for Tea Programs Ranjan Circar, with over 50 years in plantation management, certification, and sustainability policy, world’s oldest and largest tea auction house J. Thomas & Co., former Chairman and MD and veteran tea industry leader Krishan Katyal, and Solidaridad General Manager – Program Systems and Coordination Ramanand Tiwari, who led India’s Sustainable Tea Initiative, covering over 60% of the national industry.

Longstanding commitment to Sri Lanka’s sustainability goals

Solidaridad has supported Sri Lanka’s sustainable agriculture and plantation sector since 2008, working closely with industry stakeholders to advance sustainability standards. Today, its work with the agriculture and plantation sectors focuses on promoting regenerative agriculture as a pathway to higher productivity, improved soil health, enhanced biodiversity, water conservation, and agroforestry – with a strong focus on smallholders. These initiatives contribute directly to the Government of Sri Lanka’s priorities for poverty alleviation, the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ program, and national digitalisation goals.

Additionally, through this partnership, the sectors have benefitted from the introduction of modern biodigesters, providing clean cooking gas and nutrient-rich biofertiliser to farmers, as well as innovative, low-cost digital, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and agri-tech tools such as hyperlocal weather stations, soil testers, and leaf scanners. The programs further promote inclusive participation through a dedicated app for women farmers, supporting farm-level decision-making and improved market access.

MoUs with transformative impact

The new agreements will see Lumbini Tea Valley, Elpitiya Plantations, and Hayleys Plantations:

• Adopt regenagri as the standard to improve competitiveness, enhance traceability, and strengthen consumer confidence in Sri Lankan tea.
• Implement a robust chain of custody systems to assure end-to-end product integrity.
• Deploy regenagri carbon insetting programs, enabling estates to generate Carbon Removal Units (CRUs) and access verified carbon markets.
• Integrate digitisation of operations, using Solidaridad’s digital agri-tech to monitor soil health, biodiversity, water use, and productivity.
• Ensure that Regenagri® protocols meet and exceed prevailing sustainability certification requirements, while preparing producers to comply with emerging global regulations such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
• Engage in global and local advocacy to position Sri Lanka as a leader in regenerative agriculture.

Regenagri: The leading regenerative agriculture certification by certified hectares globally

Regenagri C.i.C is equally owned by farmers, businesses, and civil society. With over 2.2 million hectares under certification by 2024 and 3 million hectares in process for 2025 (all eligible for carbon sequestration claims), regenagri is the world’s largest regenerative agriculture certification. It offers multiple pathways from on-farm regenerative certification to chain of custody, and is widely regarded as being close to Gold Standard in its rigour and credibility.

Regenerative agriculture provides the only practical alternative between conventional mainstream practices and full organic conversion, offering environmental, economic, and social benefits. For tea producers, the advantages include greater market competitiveness, increased consumer recognition, and tangible rewards for sustainable practices.

Aitken Spence Group Executive Director and Head of Corporate Strategy, Sustainability and Plantations Dr. Rohan Fernando said: “At Elpitiya Plantations, we have always believed that sustainability and innovation must go hand in hand. As part of the Aitken Spence Group, our commitment to regenerative agriculture is deeply rooted in our operational ethos. This partnership with Solidaridad, Nucleus Foundation, and regenagri marks a significant milestone in our journey to enhance soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. From pioneering berry cultivation in Sri Lanka to advancing eco-tourism, hydro power, and specialty tea manufacturing, Elpitiya continues to redefine what a modern, climate-resilient plantation can achieve. We are proud to lead the way in aligning Sri Lankan agriculture with global sustainability benchmarks.”

Hayleys Plantations Sector Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai said: “The signing of this MoU represents a pivotal step forward in our commitment to championing regenerative and sustainable agriculture across our tea and other estates. Through this collaboration with Solidaridad Asia Network and the Nucleus Foundation, and by aligning with the regenagri® standard, being the Global 1st ‘regenagri’ Certified Tea Estates and Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs), we aim to enhance soil health, improve water retention, strengthen biodiversity, and increase carbon sequestration, all critical activities in mitigating the impacts of climate change. At Hayleys Plantations, sustainability is not a side initiative; it is embedded in our corporate DNA. This partnership reflects our unwavering responsibility to lead the industry in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) excellence, ensuring that our operations create lasting environmental, social, and economic value for our stakeholders and for future generations.”

Dr. Chattopadhayay said: “These MoUs mark a decisive shift for Sri Lanka’s plantation sector – moving beyond compliance to building value chains that are climate-resilient, market-ready, and prepared for the fast-evolving global sustainability regulations. As Chairman of regenagri C.i.C, I am proud to see Sri Lankan producers join a global network of millions of hectares under regenerative management, all eligible for carbon sequestration claims. Solidaridad’s technical expertise and international networks, together with the implementation capabilities of our local partner, Nucleus Foundation, will support these companies to adopt advanced regenerative practices, tap into carbon finance, and strengthen the global competitiveness of Sri Lankan tea.”