Page 64 - #49 English

Tea

Article by: David DeCandia

Pure Ceylon Tea

True Sustainability Part II

Part I of our series on Sri Lanka, written by Da-
vid DeCandia, director of tea at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
and the first Ceylon Tea Ambassador to North America
appointed by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, focused on the
social aspect of sustainability. In Part II, he discusses en-
vironmental sustainability as it relates to Sri Lanka’s tea
industry. Environmental sustainability refers to actions
and or projects done by people that can be performed or
done continuously or for long periods of time with little
or no adverse impact to the environment.
Sri Lankan tea growers now follow the standards
of the Sustainable Agriculture Network, an international
body that sets standards and recommends best practices
for sustainability. Sustainable cultivation methods can ity. Tea land is particularly vulnerable to soil loss at the
include soil fertility, soil loss, nutrients, pest manage- time of planting and of pruning.
ment, biodiversity, energy and water management. The Sri Lanka practices only hand plucking of tea
continued push towards full sustainability has also led leaves. Hand plucking is done for many reasons. Firstly,
to areas of tea manufacture, storage, transportation and it ensures tea quality and reduces carbon emissions from
distribution of Ceylon Teas. Improving processes in these mechanical harvesters. It’s also effective for monitoring
areas can lead to economic sustainability. In my personal and removing any imperfect leaves as well as any harmful
travels to tea estates in Sri Lanka over the last 14 years I insects and pests. Hand plucking also reduces the damage
have continually seen a steady improvement in sustain- to tea bushes compared to machine harvesting. It is com-
able practices for the overall environment. mon to see tea bushes have life spans of over one hundred
Sustainable agriculture is productive, competi- years and producing high quality teas.
tive and efficient, while at the same time protecting and The Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) and the Sri
improving the natural environment and conditions of Lanka Tea Research Institute (TRI) have strict rules and
local communities. Soil fertility and its maintenance have policies on the use of only approved agrochemicals. Also,
been key to the continued success in the Sri Lankan tea natural pest control methods are highly encouraged,
industry. Soils are maintained by using grass varieties to including planting of various floras that are natural pest
control erosion and increase fertility. Soil erosion is one repellents and shade trees. Minimal use of pesticides help
of the major reasons for decline in agricultural productiv- to sustain the ecological balance of the tea fields.
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