Frequently Asked Questions

F.O.C.U.S.™ stands for the Farming Output Carbon Utilisation Standard. It is a carbon credit standard built specifically for coffee farms. Launched in 2022 with support from the European Space Agency (ESA), it combines satellite data and soil science to measure and verify carbon stored across smallholder coffee farms in East Africa.

GAP77™ is a set of 77 practical regenerative farming methods developed over 13 years specifically for coffee farming. These practices — including afforestation, biochar production, the Fishbone irrigation system, composting, and contour planting — form the agronomic foundation of the F.O.C.U.S.™ programme. See key GAP77™ practices and how they drive carbon sequestration.

F.O.C.U.S.™ uses a dual measurement approach. Above-ground carbon is measured using satellite remote sensing combined with bespoke allometric equations built specifically for coffee. Below-ground soil organic carbon is measured using spectral analysis for baselines and Loss on Ignition (LOI) testing for ongoing monitoring, with stratified sampling at 30cm depth across each farm.

Biochar is produced by converting coffee cherry pulp — a waste product from coffee processing — into a stable carbon-rich material. When added to soil, biochar locks carbon into a form that remains stable for over 100 years while also improving soil fertility. This turns a waste product into a tool for both carbon sequestration and improved farm productivity.

The Fishbone System is a gravity-fed irrigation method that uses lateral erosion channels to distribute water across a farm. It requires zero pumps and no expensive infrastructure — just effective water distribution that prevents runoff and preserves nutrient-rich topsoil.

Satellite measurements track biomass changes across mapped farms over time. Bespoke allometric equations, developed specifically for coffee, convert satellite biomass data into carbon estimates based on tree size, diameter, and growth patterns. This is combined with on-the-ground soil sampling for a complete above and below-ground carbon picture.

F.O.C.U.S.™ uses a mobile mapping app that works offline to accurately map the plots of participating farmers using geo-referenced data collection. This defines project boundaries and supports ongoing carbon monitoring across 250,000+ farms.

Carbon is measured using a dual approach — bespoke allometric equations applied to satellite biomass data, alongside soil sampling. Results are fully traceable from individual farm to registry, providing a clear and verifiable view of carbon stored across coffee farms.

F.O.C.U.S.™ was co-founded by David Mills (CEO), Mario Serracin, Ph.D. (Head of Regenerative Agriculture), and Graham Mills (CTO). The standard draws on 13 years of direct work with coffee farming communities in East Africa.

F.O.C.U.S.™ is supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), UK Space Agency, Innovate UK, and the Satellite Applications Catapult. The programme was launched through the ESA Business Applications programme.

F.O.C.U.S.™ is the only open, coffee-specific carbon credit standard — any coffee company can use it, unlike brand-specific insetting programmes. It focuses on carbon addition rather than merely preventing emissions, using bespoke allometric equations developed from direct coffee tree sampling rather than adapted from generic forestry models. It is designed as a verified value chain intervention, enabling companies to address Scope 3 emissions within their own supply chain.

GAP77™ practices deliver measurable co-benefits: coffee yields can increase from as low as 0.3 kg to up to 4 kg of cherry per tree. Banana intercropping provides shade and a secondary income stream. Soil health improves through increased microbial activity, and farms become more resilient to pests and fungal disease. Climate resilience improves as farms are better equipped to handle the increasing heat stress affecting all 25 major coffee-producing countries. Farmers also receive AI-driven SMS alerts based on hyperlocal weather forecasts and satellite stress indicators to guide key farming activities.

For coffee companies, Scope 3 emissions (Category 1: Purchased Goods and Services) represent up to 90% of their total carbon footprint, with 68-91% of coffee's emissions occurring before beans leave the farm. F.O.C.U.S.™ works at the farm level, enabling carbon insetting — a verified value chain intervention within your own supply chain, not disconnected offsetting. Coffee is one of seven mandatory commodities under SBTi FLAG (Forest, Land and Agriculture) targets. F.O.C.U.S.™ traceability supports reporting against CSRD/ESRS, SBTi FLAG, EU Taxonomy, and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) through farm-level geolocation data.

Each F.O.C.U.S.™ carbon credit represents one metric tonne of CO₂ equivalent removed from the atmosphere through verified carbon sequestration on coffee farms. Credits are backed by dual above-ground and below-ground measurement, and are retired upon purchase to prevent double-counting.

F.O.C.U.S.™ monitors surrounding areas — including forests, subsistence farms, and wasteland around each Coffee Washing Station (CWS) zone — to minimise the risk of leakage. Historical satellite data verifies no deforestation or land conversion has occurred in the prior four years. Soil samples are tested at 30cm depth with the bottom 10cm analysed separately to assess long-term carbon permanence. See our leakage prevention methodology for full details.

Years of soil sampling across coffee farms have revealed a common picture — depleted soils with high acidity, imbalanced nutrients, and a lack of the microbiology that healthy ecosystems depend on. Poor land management and, in some regions, excessive fertiliser use have left these soils underperforming. Most carbon standards aren't built for this — they focus on preventing emissions from existing carbon stocks, not on adding new carbon. Coffee farms, with degraded soils and room for regenerative intervention, represent a significant and largely unaddressed opportunity for carbon sequestration. F.O.C.U.S.™ was built to close that gap, combining proven regenerative practices with precise satellite and soil measurement to turn coffee farms into active carbon sinks while improving yields, biodiversity, and farmer livelihoods.

F.O.C.U.S.™ is an open standard — any coffee company can partner with it, unlike proprietary brand-specific programmes. It addresses Scope 3 Category 1 emissions directly at the farm level, where 68-91% of coffee's carbon footprint originates. Measurement, verification, and farmer training infrastructure is already in place. Companies can integrate carbon insetting into their sourcing as a verified value chain intervention, supporting their SBTi FLAG targets, CSRD/ESRS reporting, and building climate resilience across their supply chain.

There has been limited research into carbon storage potential in subtropical tree stocks like coffee. Generic agricultural or forestry carbon standards rely on broad estimates that don't capture the specific carbon dynamics of coffee agroforestry systems. F.O.C.U.S.™ addresses this with custom allometric equations and satellite monitoring built specifically for coffee, providing precise measurements where broader standards fall short. This allows coffee farmers to be recognised as proactive contributors to carbon sequestration rather than passive participants.

Additionality means the carbon sequestration would not have happened without the project's intervention. F.O.C.U.S.™ demonstrates additionality through initial consultation and surveys that assess current farming practices and identify challenges. Baseline soil samples establish the starting carbon levels before GAP77™ practices are implemented. Historical satellite data confirms the land was not recently deforested. This evidence shows that the carbon being sequestered is genuinely new — a direct result of the regenerative practices introduced through the programme.

F.O.C.U.S.™ follows a phased implementation process: First, an initial consultation with farmers at a Coffee Washing Station introduces GAP77™ practices and surveys current conditions. Then, mobile mapping software maps each participating farm's boundaries. A select group of early adopters form a core group to spearhead carbon farming. Contracts are signed establishing farmers as the rightful owners of their carbon credits. Baseline soil samples are collected at 30cm depth to establish starting carbon levels. Finally, satellite data verifies historical land use to confirm no recent deforestation. As early adopters demonstrate results, more farmers voluntarily join, and the programme scales across the region.

Carbon insetting means reducing or sequestering carbon within your own supply chain, rather than purchasing credits from unrelated projects elsewhere. For coffee companies, this means funding regenerative practices on the farms that grow their coffee — directly linking climate action to their product. Unlike traditional offsetting, insetting is more traceable, more credible, and increasingly favoured by regulators. The EU Green Claims Directive is moving to restrict carbon neutrality claims based solely on offsetting, making insetting the more sustainable long-term approach.