AL-INVEST Verde promotes dialogue on coffee and sustainability in Latin America at SIGEP international exhibition in Italy

Rimini, Italy, 23 January 2023. The AL-INVEST Green AL-INVEST programme, through the Component 2participated in the 44th International Artisan Ice Cream, Pastry, Bakery, Bakery and Coffee Fair, SIGEPheld in Rimini (Italy) from 21 to 25 January. AL-INVEST Verde organised the dialogue "Coffee and Sustainability in Latin America: good practices, challenges and future perspectives".The meeting invited relevant actors in the coffee production process to participate.

The main objective of the dialogue was to analyse how to to achieve a coffee that respects the environment and people. The event, organised on 21 January, brought together representatives from the public sector, the private sector and the third sector, both from the European Union and from different Latin American countries.

"Production chains, such as coffee, are global. Hence the importance of ensure traceability throughout the production process to guarantee greater sustainability. and compliance with the necessary international standards. Events like SIGEP are an important platform to bring all links in this chain together and to advocate for the challenges that need to be addressed," he said. Andrea MonacoSenior Programme Manager of AL-INVEST Verde.

The panel included Gerardo Patacconi, Head of Operations of the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), and representatives of the Secretariat of Agriculture of Minas Gerais (Brazil), the National Coffee Federation of Colombia, the Association of High Altitude Ecological Producers of Palanda (APECAP) and the Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG).

The event was also attended by the AL-INVEST Verde Component 3 Action Manager, Mariano Riccheri. In his presentation, Riccheri referred to the role of the intellectual property for sustainable agricultural innovation. He pointed out that geographical indications, which link origin, reputation and quality of products such as coffee, can be an important vehicle for implementing sustainable local productions that gain recognition among consumers.

All participants contributed to the debate by providing ideas, comments and policy recommendations to transforming sustainability challenges into business opportunities.

Challenges for coffee sustainability

Today, coffee is one of the most traded and consumed commodities in the world. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in 2020, five of the top ten coffee-producing countries were in Latin America. Its production plays a crucial role in the socio-economic and environmental development of the region.

However, the challenges for the sustainability of coffee are enormous: as demand increases, so do the costs of coffee production. threats to environmental and social sustainability. The regulatory framework is also changing to integrate existing sustainability experiences and add value to this important sector of the economy which is also facing rising prices.

Through this event, which is intended to be the first of a series of events that will take place throughout 2023, AL-INVEST Green Component 2 promotes dialogue between European and Latin American actors to analyse the importance of building a sustainable, deforestation-free coffee value chainThe report focuses on the tools and good practices required to meet this challenge.

About AL-INVEST Green

AL-INVEST Verde is a European Union (EU) programme whose main objective is to promote sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America by supporting the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy. Through Component 2, led by FIIAPP in consortium with IILA, the programme provides assistance for strengthening public policy and multi-stakeholder dialogues on sustainable agricultural and value chains, environmental and labour standards, as well as sustainable trade and economic policy and regulatory frameworks. 

Further information: www.alinvest-verde.eu

Diálogo sobre café y sostenibilidad en la feria SIGEP 2023