📈 Future-Proofing Ceylon Tea: Climate Resilience & GI Certification Key

• The Sri Lankan tea industry must urgently embrace climate-resilient cultivation and Geographical Indication (GI) certification to secure its long-term sustainability and competitiveness, according to the TRI Deputy Director of Research. • Production Target: The industry's goal is to increase production from approximately 262 Mn kg (until 2024) to 400 Mn kg, requiring major advancements in technology and modernisation of farming systems. • Climate Challenge: The sector, which supports nearly 1 million people, is highly vulnerable to climate change, with shifting rainfall already causing production declines. • Adaptation Focus: Strategies include focusing on cultivar selection, shade management, and the adoption of new farming methods like tea-and-coconut intercropping and micro-irrigation to counter water scarcity. • GI Competitive Edge: Securing GI protection is crucial to prevent counterfeiting, ensure traceability, and build consumer trust. GI can assure higher market prices and strengthen international recognition, which is vital given Sri Lanka's high production costs. • Next Steps: Institutional reforms are needed to improve certification and digital traceability, building on the concluded project that aims for EU GI protection for Ceylon Tea.