As Tea Research Institute generates technologies aimed at improving productivity, processing and value addition of Kenyan tea, this should be done while conserving the environment as captured in the Mission statement. The SEMC programme whose goal is to promote sustainable management and conservation of tea ecosystems therefore focuses not only on effective management of the tea ecosystem, but one that is sustainable for the future of the Kenyan tea industry.

The programme has three sections, namely;

1.       Soil fertility, plant nutrition and fertilizer use

2.       Agronomy and horticulture

3.       Environmental conservation and management