From left to right; IMO organic inspector M. Rajasingham and Figaro organic coffee consultant Dr. Roland A. Ferstl with BSU-IFHSA Director Valentino Macanes and Project-in-Charge Prof. Mario Marquez in a deliberation after inspecting the BSU organic coffee plantation on September 11, 2007.

      
      BSU's organic Arabica coffee is now officially enrolled for certification in Naturland, a German organic certifier courtesy of Figaro Foundation.

     According to IFHSA Director Valentino L. Macanes, the certification will be done ´hopefully in the next two or three years´. He noted that since there are different standards of organic agriculture followed by different countries, a German organic certifier is needed because Figaro would like to export BSU's organic Arabica coffee to Europe through the European Union.

     It took a tedious process for BSU to be officially enrolled in Naturland. Figaro's organic coffee consultant, Dr. Roland A. Ferstl acquired the enrollment form for BSU. Then the company shouldered the expenses of bringing an organic inspector all the way from Switzerland to see BSU's coffee plantations. ´That alone´, according to Macanes, ´cost thousands of dollars´.

     Figaro first entered into a MOA with BSU in August of 2004 to help in the promotion and marketing of organic Arabica coffee. The MOA states that Figaro will buy BSU's organic green Arabica coffee beans at premium price plus 10%. A second agreement has been added lately stating that Figaro will likewise, lend a small coffee roaster. "We were also able to hire one laborer cum field inspector to be paid by Figaro," added Macanes.

     As of now, coffee trees that have been planted in August 2004 will be ready for harvest on late October or early November this year. The second batch of coffee trees were planted last August 24, 2007 in a ceremony attended by officials and staff of BSU and Figaro .