Mapping technical ecosystem phytosanitary management in Brazilian coffee production to identify viable alternatives to Cyproconazole and Thiamethoxam

Posting Details

Job Details

Description

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Mapping of the technical ecosystem of phytosanitary management in Brazilian coffee production (C. arabica and C. canephora) to identify viable alternatives to Cyproconazole and Thiamethoxam

C. arabicaand

C. canephora) to identify viable alternatives to Cyproconazole and Thiamethoxam

Analysis of the perspectives of key research and extension stakeholders regarding currently viable alternatives to Cyproconazole and Thiamethoxam in Brazilian coffee production

Summary Information

Summary Information

Department:  PS, QoI and Global Programs, Agriculture Team

Location(s): Remote, focused on the main coffee-producing regions of Brazil (Cerrado, Alta Mogiana, South of Minas, Espírito Santo, and South of Bahia)

Engagement Period: April to May 2026 

Expected Start Date: April 2026

Reporting to: Product Support

About Rainforest Alliance

Rainforest Alliance (RA) is an international nonprofit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. We are building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.

Rainforest Alliance envisions a world where people and nature thrive in harmony. We create a more sustainable world by leveraging social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of producers and forest communities.

In this context, Rainforest Alliance promotes the progressive reduction of dependence on highly hazardous pesticides by strengthening Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and identifying technically viable and available alternatives adapted to local production contexts.

For more information, please visit: http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/about

Background

Rainforest Alliance is committed to fostering healthy and resilient agroecosystems with minimal dependence on pesticides, promoting sustainable pest management through Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). In Brazilian coffee production, however, the use of cyproconazole and thiamethoxam remains widespread, including soil applications of commercial formulations for the control of coffee leaf rust and soil pests, despite the associated risks to human health, biodiversity, and ecosystems.

Under the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard Version 1.4, the organization reinforces restrictions on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) and prohibits the soil application of triazoles listed under the Exceptional Use Policy (EUP), based on scientific evidence showing that foliar applications are more effective, require lower quantities of active ingredients, and significantly reduce risks of soil and water contamination. This position is outlined in the technical document Application of Triazoles for Control of Coffee Leaf Rust (Hemileia vastatrix) (Rainforest Alliance, 2022). These updates reflect a strengthened pathway toward reduced reliance on hazardous inputs and greater alignment between certification requirements and environmental protection goals.

At the same time, Rainforest Alliance’s emerging regenerative agriculture approach further advances this transition by promoting farming systems that restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience, and improve farmers’ livelihoods. This regenerative vision goes beyond input substitution, aiming to redesign production systems to be ecologically balanced and economically viable.

Given the persistent gap between widely disseminated technical recommendations in the Brazilian coffee sector and the requirements of the Rainforest Alliance Standard (v1.4) and its regenerative agriculture framework, this initiative seeks to identify and map institutions, researchers, extension agents, and consultants who are already developing, recommending, or validating technically sound and economically viable alternatives to the current reliance on cyproconazole and thiamethoxam. Strengthening cross-sector coordination will help expand access to high-quality, non-commercial technical assistance and accelerate the adoption of more resilient, regenerative, and environmentally sustainable practices in Brazilian coffee production.

Scope of the Consultancy Work

Main Objective

Identify and analyse the technical and institutional landscape of the Brazilian coffee sector related to the knowledge, validation, recommendation, and research of viable and available alternatives to soil drench applications of commercial formulations combining Cyproconazole and Thiamethoxam in C. arabica and C. canephora coffee.

Specific Objectives

• Map the main institutions, organizations, and key actors in the coffee sector (C. arabica and C. canephora) that directly influence phytosanitary recommendations to producers.
• Define the overall picture and current view of the sector regarding the practice of applying the mixture of Cyproconazole + Thiamethoxam to the soil and the alternatives that are currently being used, evaluated, or recommended as replacements as well as their efficacy, impact on productivity, and economic viability.
• Identify the main decision-makers and technical influencers who impact producers' decisions on phytosanitary management and the replacement of this specific practice.
• Consolidate the findings of the initial research already conducted, integrating them into a structured analysis.

As a result of this phase, a consolidated document in English will be developed, bringing together the main findings, analysis, and conclusions. This document will serve as the foundation for defining transition, positioning, or phase-out strategies related to the soil drench application of commercial formulations combining Cyproconazole + Thiamethoxam.

Through this consultancy, Rainforest Alliance will gain a clear understanding of:

• Which technical actors in the Brazilian coffee sector are already aware of, recommending, or validating alternatives to this practice.
• Which currently available alternatives are being promoted in the field.
• What technical, economic, or cultural barriers exist for transitioning away from this practice.

This information will serve as the strategic basis for the next phase of the project, which will include field visits, technical support to producers, and monitoring of results.

Activities

To achieve the proposed objectives, the following activities will be carried out:

• Conduct a sector mapping to identify the main actors influencing decision-making among C. arabica and C. canephora producers, with emphasis on those involved in technical recommendations related to the soil drench application of commercial formulations combining Cyproconazole + Thiamethoxam. This includes research institutes, universities, professors, and independent consultants

• Conduct virtual dialogues and interviews with specialists aimed at understanding their technical perspectives on:
  
  • The current role of this practice within coffee phytosanitary management.
  • The main challenges associated with its use (economic, efficacy, resistance, regulation, sustainability).
  • The alternatives currently available that are being recommended, evaluated, or implemented as replacements and assess how they compare in terms of economic viability, efficacy, and sustainability.
• Identify existing experiences, trials, research initiatives, or technical recommendations that support the use of alternatives to this practice across different coffee-producing regions of Brazil.
• Develop a database including the actor’s name, institution, region of operation, contact information, and key technical perspectives related to phytosanitary management and the transition toward alternatives.

• Develop a database including the actor’s name, institution, region of operation, contact information, and key technical perspectives related to phytosanitary management and the transition toward alternatives. Analyze the collected information and prepare a technical report in English for Rainforest Alliance, including:
• A strategic stakeholder map.
• An inventory of existing technical alternatives.
• The level of adoption or validation of these alternatives.
• Identified barriers to transition.

Deliverables

 

Document outlining the methodological approach, timeline, implementation phases, and responsibilities, focused on mapping technical stakeholders and alternatives to the soil drench application of the Cyproconazole + Thiamethoxam mixture.

April 10, 2026

Structured mapping of the main technical and institutional actors in the coffee sector (C. arabica and C. canephora) who influence phytosanitary recommendations and have knowledge of alternatives to this practice.

April 17, 2026

Systematization of stakeholder perceptions, identified barriers, opportunities, and currently available and promoted alternatives replacing this practice.

May 8, 2026

Presentation to the Rainforest Alliance team for technical feedback and strategic alignment.

May 11, 2026

Consolidated technical report including a strategic stakeholder map, inventory of identified technical alternatives, and analysis of barriers to transition.de barreras para la transición

May 15, 2026

 

General Terms and Conditions for the Request for Proposals

• Bidders must provide all information requested in this Request for Proposals and respond clearly and concisely to all points outlined herein. Any proposal that does not fully and comprehensively address this request may be rejected.

• Proposals and/or any additional information received after the submission deadline may be rejected by Rainforest Alliance.

• Incomplete proposals may be rejected at the discretion of Rainforest Alliance.

• Rainforest Alliance reserves the right to request additional information at any time during the procurement process.

• Rainforest Alliance may select one, multiple, or no proposals as part of the evaluation process. Furthermore, Rainforest Alliance reserves the right to cancel the procurement process at any time. All costs associated with the preparation and submission of the proposal shall be borne by the bidder and will not be reimbursed by Rainforest Alliance.

• It is the responsibility of each bidder to identify any confidential or proprietary information contained in their proposal so that it may be treated accordingly. However, Rainforest Alliance cannot guarantee the confidentiality of information received.

Selection Criteria and Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications of the Consultant or Consulting Company

The consultant or consulting firm must meet, at minimum, the following criteria to be eligible to carry out the consultancy:

• Academic background and/or demonstrated experience in agronomy, biology, ecology, natural resource management, or related fields.
• Experience in developing methodological frameworks, preferably in institutional mapping exercises, technical interviews, and analysis of agricultural recommendation ecosystems. Experience in establishing and managing field experiments, data collection and analysis, and strengthening good agricultural practices.
• Knowledge and practical experience in research methodologies and analytical approaches related to the current state of coffee production in Brazil.
• Experience in implementing methodological intervention tools for conflict resolution and multi-stakeholder engagement within the agricultural sector. Strong capacity to analyze quantitative and qualitative information obtained through interviews, document review, or technical analysis.
• Proficiency in Portuguese is required. Verbal and written communication skills in Spanish and English are considered an asset.

The selection of the consultant or consulting firm will be based on the following criteria:

Academic background and/or experience in agronomy, biology, ecology, natural resource management, or related fields

10%

Experience in developing methodological frameworks, including institutional mapping and technical interviews

20%

Experience in establishing and managing field experiments, data collection and analysis, and strengthening Good Agricultural Practices

20%

Knowledge and application of research and analytical methodologies related to the current state of coffee production in Brazil

15%

Experience in implementing methodological intervention tools for conflict resolution and organizational models.

15%

Capacity to analyze quantitative and qualitative information

10%

Competitive budget aligned with the required scope of work

10%

 

Proposal Process and Format

Interested consultants or consulting firms must submit a proposal including the following:

1. Legal Requirements: Upon request, consultants must provide all legal documentation required by Rainforest Alliance and/or local legislation, such as work permits, banking details, registration information, tax documents, etc.

When the opportunity is restricted to a specific location, only candidates legally authorized to work in that location will be considered.

2. Technical Proposal Requirements: The technical proposal must include:

• Profile of the consultant or project team (in the case of a consulting company).
• Proposed work plan and methodological approach, including activity timeline and expected results.
• Clear description of the proposed methodology for mapping technical stakeholders, conducting interviews, and analyzing the phytosanitary recommendation ecosystem in coffee.
• List of previous assignments demonstrating experience in related topics.
• Updated CV(s).
• Contact details for at least two recent professional references (email and phone number).

3. Financial Proposal Requirements

The consultant must submit a budget proposal detailing the costs required to carry out the activities and deliver the expected outputs. This consultancy is desk-based, and no travel-related expenses should be included in the proposal.

The financial proposal should clearly indicate:

• A detailed fixed-price proposal covering all activities to complete the deliverables.
• Include the basis for cost calculation (e.g., reference rates, prior contract benchmarks, or cost structure explanation).
• The proposal must be submitted in brazilian reais.

All proposals must be submitted through Work at the Rainforest Alliance | Rainforest Alliance – “Request for Proposals” or via LinkedIn, as a single integrated PDF document (one file only).

If you experience difficulties uploading information to the platform, please try accessing it using different web browsers. Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered.

Contact Person for Questions

Matheus Calheiros: mcalheiros@ra.org

Proposal Submission Deadline

March 27th 2026