TORAJA, INDONESIA - From June 18-19, 2026, a research delegation led by the Chairman of the Consortium for Coffee Traceability and Circular Economy, Prof. Dr. Novizar Nazir, together with consortium member and researcher Prof. Dr. Rika Ampuh Hadiguna, conducted an intensive field study known as the Toraja Coffee Expedition. The mission aimed to gain first-hand insights into existing circular economy practices in coffee plantations, providing valuable data and material flow information to support the development of the CircularTrace platform.
Toraja, internationally recognized for its premium Arabica coffee, is increasingly emerging as a center for sustainable agricultural innovation. The expedition revealed how coffee production in the region is gradually shifting from a conventional linear model of “take–make–waste” toward a circular system that maximizes resource utilization while minimizing environmental impacts.
Transforming Waste into Valuable Resources
One of the key focuses of the expedition was to observe how coffee-processing byproducts are managed and transformed into valuable resources. In Toraja, agricultural waste is systematically reused through various circular practices, including:
- Organic Composting: Large quantities of coffee-processing residues are converted into nutrient-rich organic fertilizers through structured composting systems, improving soil fertility and reducing waste generation.
- Renewable Bioenergy: Coffee parchment, the protective skin surrounding coffee beans, is widely used as biomass fuel for mechanical drying furnaces, significantly reducing dependence on fossil fuels and enhancing energy efficiency.
Industrial Leadership: The Case of PT Sulotco
The delegation also visited PT Sulotco, the largest coffee company in the Toraja region, which has become a leading example of integrating commercial-scale production with circular economy initiatives. Several important findings were highlighted during the visit:
- Cascara Valorization: PT Sulotco has developed the utilization of coffee cherry husks (cascara) into functional cascara tea. Although currently implemented at the research and pilot scale, this innovation transforms what was once considered waste into a high-value beverage rich in antioxidants.
- Integrated Wildlife Management: The company maintains a dedicated facility housing approximately 300 civets (luwak) for the production of authentic Kopi Luwak, integrating animal husbandry into the plantation ecosystem.
- Symbiotic Livestock Integration: Researchers observed an optimized agroforestry system involving goat farming within the coffee plantation. The goats feed on Lamtoro (Leucaena leucocephala) trees, which are strategically planted to provide shade for coffee plants. In return, goat manure is collected and processed into high-quality organic compost, creating a sustainable nutrient cycle that directly benefits the plantation.
Enhancing the CircularTrace Platform
Insights gathered during the two-day expedition will directly contribute to the ongoing development of CircularTrace, a digital platform designed to support traceability and circular economy practices in the coffee sector. By documenting resource flows—from Lamtoro shade trees and goat manure compost to coffee byproducts transformed into cascara tea and bioenergy—the research team aims to establish a comprehensive traceability framework.
This framework will enable consumers and supply chain stakeholders worldwide to trace not only the origin of coffee beans but also the measurable sustainability indicators and circular value chains embedded throughout the production process. Ultimately, CircularTrace seeks to strengthen transparency, promote responsible production, and enhance the global competitiveness of Indonesian coffee through verifiable circular economy practices.
