Planting the Future: The 11 Million Trees Project

At Bell Lane, we know that coffee can be a force for good, especially for the communities and ecosystems that produce it. That’s why we're proud to back the 11 Million Trees Project in Timor-Leste, led by our long-standing sourcing partner, Raw Material.

This project is a long-term investment in coffee, people, land, climate, and the ecosystems that support coffee production.

coffee at the core

This is, first and foremost, a coffee-led project. After gaining independence in 2002, Timor-Leste became the most reliant on oil of all nations in the world with 95% of its income tied to oil exports. That stream of income is now diminishing.

The country's second largest industry is coffee, but the current coffee infrastructure presents some challenges:

coffee trees are 40 years old on average
productivity is low (about 20% of the global average)
yearly harvests provide an unpredictable yield

Coffee is grown by 37.5% of Timor-Leste households. However, most of these people live below the poverty line. This project aims to change this by:

planting a test forest to determine which varietals perform best in Timor-Leste's evolving climate
develop a large scale nursery to supply seedlings to 10,000 local families
lift incomes immediately and in the long-term

seedlings growing in a nursery in timor-leste

raw material & phase one

Our coffee sourcing partners, Raw Material, have spent eight years on the ground in Timor-Leste already, testing processing methods, improving quality, and getting to know the opportunities and limitations of power, transport, training, marketing, and agronomy.

They've already looked at renewable energy, plastic repurposing, and bamboo infrastructure in partnership with Engineers Without Borders. Together, they aim to form a practical and regenerative system that will lift yields, stabilise quality, and double the value of coffee exports.

Most importantly, their efforts and our collective support will reduce poverty for coffee-growing households. As we launch phase two, we’re inviting you to join us and become part of this change.

matt and ameta from raw material

more than trees

While being a coffee led project that aims to double coffee production in the region, the 11 Million Trees project also aims to:

halve poverty rates
build climate resilience that lasts for generations

To achieve this, Raw Material is planting disease-resistant, high-yield varietals in a soon to be developed testing forest. This will help identify which plants are best suited to Timor-Leste’s evolving climate.

From there, a large-scale nursery will provide seedlings to 10,000 local households, boosting incomes in both the short and long-term.

coffee being processed in timor-leste

the ecosystem around coffee

This is where things get really interesting. It’s not just about what grows, but about how it’s grown and how it can be sustained.

The 11 Million Trees initiative will also see:

unwanted solar panels from Australia being reused to power processing stations
plastic waste being turned into components and tools
locally sourced bamboo being used as a sustainable and local way to replace rust-prone steel

This all speaks to our B Corp values at Bell Lane where every decision we take is aimed at benefitting people and the planet.

plastic upcycling in timor-leste

why we’re getting involved

We’ve worked with Raw Material for years, sourcing coffees from the producers they support and sharing their mission of value distribution. Backing this project is a natural continuation of that relationship and an exciting step for everyone at Bell Lane.

This project also asks and answers the right type of questions:

how do we protect coffee’s future in the face of climate change?
how can we support farmers to earn more, not just survive?
how do we rebuild systems that were never built with equity in mind?

We’re proud to be part of the answer and you can can get involved too.

a farmer fertilises a young coffee tree in timor-leste

how you can get involved

Bell Lane isn’t alone in this project. Other roasteries and coffee lovers around the world are getting behind this initiative because when we work together we can do so much more than anything we do alone.

If you’d like to be part of this project, you can pledge your support, from planting a single tree, to a forest, or even joining the global tasting team.

This is an opportunity to plant something that grows beyond us all, while leaving a lasting impression for the people of Timor-Leste for generations to come.