The South Korean company SK Forest Co. announced on Wednesday it is teaming up with the Korea Forest Service to establish a sustainable coffee farm in Ethiopia.

The major forestry company, based in the city of Hwaseong in South Korea, said it plans to develop a tree nursery covering an area of 10,000 square meters in a coffee farm in southeastern Ethiopia. Afterward, SK Forest Co. intends to rebuild the natural ecosystem by planting 70,000 gum trees and others on a total of 700,000 square meters of land. In addition to this, the company also plans to transfer agroforestry and other forestry technologies to local professionals.

Agroforestry enables the simultaneous operation of agriculture, forestry, and livestock businesses to grow a variety of produce while protecting the soil.

Coffee produced on the farm will be sold to the South Korean market via fair trade, the company announced, and Tree Planet Inc., a social venture, will oversee distribution.

Source: The Korea Bizwire