THE EDITOR – The Ministry of Law through the Director General of Intellectual Property officially issued a Geographical Indication (GI) recording certificate for Robusta Java Banyuwangi Coffee.
The certificate was handed over by the Director General of Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Law Razilu to Acting Banyuwangi Regent Sugirah at the Banyuwangi Regent Office, Tuesday (19/11/2024).
On the occasion, Razilu explained that the GI certification for Robusta Java Banyuwangi Coffee was obtained through a long process. It began in 2022 through cooperation between the Banyuwangi Agriculture and Food Service, MPIG Kopi Robusta Bumi Blambangan (MPIG-KRBB), and the Jember Coffee and Cocoa Research Centre.
“With the recognised characteristics of Banyuwangi robusta coffee, it is hoped that the development of the Banyuwangi Robusta Java Coffee business will get legal protection, recognition for the quality and uniqueness of the product, and preserve the tradition of coffee production procedures (customs) that already exist in Banyuwangi Regency,” he said.
Geographical Indication is a mark indicating the region of origin of a good/product due to geographical environmental factors such as natural factors, human factors, or a combination of both that give it a certain reputation, quality, and characteristics.
The Ministry of Law and Human Rights team led by the DJKI Geographical Indication expert team in July 2024 has conducted a substantive examination. One of them is a discussion with several farmer groups to obtain as much information as possible related to Robusta Java Coffee from Banyuwangi to be followed up in a meeting to determine its eligibility as a GI.
“Banyuwangi Regency is one of the contributors to robusta coffee production in East Java with a coffee plantation area of 9,778 hectares, with hilly land contours and an average planting height varying between 100 to -1,000 masl, which is considered ideal for robusta coffee trees,” said Acting Regent Sugirah.
The robusta coffee producing areas in Banyuwangi are the Mount Raung and Mount Ijen areas. Supported by superior seeds and topography, Banyuwangi robusta coffee, especially those on the slopes of Mount Raung, are able to produce unique flavors. It has a combination of acidity and caramel brown flavor that will leave a memorable impression on the tongue.
WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICATIONS OF ROBUSTA JAVA BANYUWANGI COFFEE?
Banyuwangi robusta coffee has been exported and supplies the European market, including Switzerland and Italy. Even in the midst of the Covid 2020 pandemic, Banyuwangi is still consistently exporting its superior coffee to supply the European market.
“Because our processed coffee has a distinctive flavor, like chocolate, that Italians like,” Sugirah said.
The acting regent hopes that the ratification of the Banyuwangi Robusta Coffee GI will not only provide economic benefits to the community, but become a reflection of Banyuwangi’s natural and cultural wealth.
“With the ratification of Robusta Banyuwangi coffee GI, it will promote our superior coffee products as part of our cultural wealth and protection efforts against misuse, counterfeiting, and help maintain the distinctive identity of our original coffee,” he said.
On that occasion, Sugirah revealed that the regency government will continue to facilitate other regional speciality products to obtain intellectual property recognition. In addition to coffee, the district government also registered Red Durian to obtain GI.
“We have registered the red durian, we just need to complete some documents that are still lacking. The regency government is also preparing GI registration for mangosteen, cocoa, and excelsa coffee,” he concluded.
