The prize was awarded by an independent international jury of nine experts who chose the best among the winners of the 9 single-origins that make up the recipe of the unique illy blend: Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua and Rwanda.

The SMS Cluster ECOM of Nicaragua won the Coffee Lovers’ Choice award, voted for by consumers around the world who in the weeks leading up to the event blindly tasted the same samples in illy coffees.

“For the second year in a row, a Brazilian company that adopts regenerative practices has given us the best coffee in the world. In the Fazenda Serra do Boné, the health of the soil, biodiversity, and water sources are preserved thanks to the use of organic fertilizers, biological control and the reuse of processing by-products,” said Andrea Illy, chairman of illycaffè. “We are once again noticing important signs that confirm how regenerative agriculture is the right path towards a more resilient production capable of guaranteeing productivity and superior quality, of which coffee is the forerunner with the highest growth rates.”

The panel of judges who selected the Best of the Best included Massimo Bottura, chef patron of Osteria Francescana and founder of Food for Soul; Viki Geunes, chef-owner of three-Michelin-starred Zilte in Antwerp; Felipe Rodriguez, head chef at São Paulo’s Rosewood Complex; Vanúsia Nogueira, executive director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO); Q Grader professional tasters Felipe Isaza and Dessalegn Oljirra Gemeda; journalists Vanessa Zocchetti (Madame Figaro), Sebastian Späth (Falstaff), and Josh Condon (Robb Report).

The jury described Fazenda Serra do Boné’s award-winning coffee as creamy, sweet, and full-bodied, with an elegant balance of fresh fruit aromas, caramel undertones, subtle hints of brown sugar, and a persistent chocolate finish with floral notes of jasmine – a beautifully complex coffee that perfectly embodies its Brazilian origin.

This year’s event attracted a diverse group of public figures, including Francis Ford Coppola, Marina Abramović, Pat Cleveland, Alex Riviere, Chiara Maci, Candela Pelizza, Tamu McPherson, Sveva Alviti, Christoph Leitner, Simon e Marina Ksandr, Nick Lowry, Maddy Devita, Justine Martilotti, and Brittany Leigh Ball. The celebration of coffee excellence took place at a gala dinner at Peak in Hudson Yards, hosted by Spanish TV journalist Olivia Frejus Lloyd.

Beyond awards, the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award fosters global discussions on coffee sustainability. The day began at the United Nations headquarters in New York where representatives from across the coffee supply chain gathered for a roundtable discussion titled “Global Coffee Alliance: Mobilizing a Public-Private Fund to Fight Climate Change.” The panel, moderated by Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, featured chairman Andrea Illy, Italian Ambassador to the UN, Maurizio Massari; executive director of the ICO, Vanúsia Nogueira; chef and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, Massimo Bottura; UNIDO project manager, Andrea De Marco; senior director of sustainable coffee at Conservation International, Raina Lang; and UNEP director for the New York office, Jamil Ahmad; who explored initiatives to advance sustainable coffee production in the face of climate challenges.

The panel emphasised the urgent need to transition coffee cultivation to a regenerative model to enhance resilience, improve farmer livelihoods, and reduce environmental impact. A major focus was on establishing a USD $10 billion public-private fund over the next decade, which will target smallholder coffee farmers in tropical regions heavily impacted by climate change.

“Since Expo 2015, we have worked tirelessly to build a framework to protect coffee for generations to come,” said Andrea Illy. “Regenerative agriculture has shown it can produce high yields and quality while restoring natural resources. We must act quickly to scale these solutions globally through an international fund. It is essential we implement regenerative solutions now, as we see they work and deliver positive outcomes.”

Throughout the discussion, panelists underscored the importance of uniting stakeholders from governments, international organisations, and the private sector to bring impactful, lasting change to coffee-growing communities. Reichenbach highlighted that consumer awareness and participation are key drivers in the industry’s sustainability journey.

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Producers from nine countries – Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua, and Rwanda – have earned spots in the final, with three producers representing each country. The international jury will gather in New York on 12 November to taste and evaluate the coffees, which were selected by illycaffè’s quality laboratories based on rigorous quality and sustainability criteria throughout the 2023/2024 harvest.

The Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award 2024 jury includes Massimo Bottura, chef patron of Osteria Francescana and Casa Maria Luigia and founder of Food for Soul, a non-profit organization combatting food waste and social isolation. In recognition of his humanitarian and environmental efforts, Bottura was appointed goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme in 2020 and most recently as SDG Advocate. In 2020 Osteria Francescana was awarded the prestigious Michelin Green Star for sustainability; Viki Geunes, chef and owner of restaurant Zilte in Antwerp, holder of three Michelin stars, known for his creative and visually stunning dishes; Felipe Rodrigues, head chef of the Rosewood Complex in São Paulo and one of South America’s leading chefs, with experience working under top European and Peruvian chefs.

Three professional tasters, Vanúsia Nogueira, executive director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO) and daughter of coffee producer, with extensive experience in quality coffee markets; Felipe Isaza, Arabica Q Grader and member of the Board of Directors of the Coffee Quality Institute, who has served as an international juror at numerous tastings; Dessalegn Oljirra Gemeda, Ethiopian coffee consultant and Q Grader, with a background working for the Ethiopian Coffee & Tea Authority, Ethiopian Coffee Exchange, and Oxfam.

And three expert journalists: Vanessa Zocchetti, editor-in-chief of the lifestyle section of Madame Figaro, who writes on gastronomy and design, Sebastian Späth, editor-in-chief of Germany´s leading food and lifestyle magazine Falstaff, with a great expertise in art, cuisine, fashion, and design, and Josh Condon, editor-in-chief of Robb Report, a leading luxury magazine.

This multidisciplinary jury combines culinary, technical and journalistic expertise to assess the complex nuances of the world’s finest coffees and choose the ‘Best of the Best.’

In addition, consumers will have the chance to participate by tasting the 9 finalist coffees and voting for their favourite in a series of blind tastings held at illy flagship stores worldwide. The coffee with the most votes will receive the ‘Coffee Lovers’ Choice’ award.

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Attending the ceremony were representatives from the Saudi Embassy in London and HRH Prince Khalid Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom, who signed the trade treaty. Under the ICA 2022, governments, in collaboration with the private sector and civil society, will come together to determine initiatives that support a more prosperous and sustainable future for stakeholders within the global coffee value chain.

Coffee is deeply woven into the fabric of life in Saudi Arabia. Historically, it was cultivated by the ancient
tribes of Khawlan who lend their name to the prized Khawlani coffee typical of the Jazan region, the
cultivation practices of which are inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

As for consumption, the country’s habits represent a blend of modernity and tradition, where the buzz of
state-of-the-art espresso machines in Riyadh’s coffee outlets intertwines with the comforting echoes of
ancestral practices in homes across the nation. Saudis embrace both international coffee trends and
authentic qahwa, often flavoured with cardamom and poured into small ornate cups called finjan. For many, the serving of the beverage is a distinctive cultural ritual and a symbol of the Kingdom’s rich history and hospitality.

ICO executive director, Vanúsia Nogueira, said, “We are honoured to welcome Saudi Arabia as a signatory to the ICA 2022 and hope that this will bring a unique new flavour to our global community. Together in the spirit of international cooperation, we celebrate the diversity of coffee traditions and jointly undertake to safeguard, promote, and sustain the sector. I am sure that our collaboration will thrive as we foster a future where we continue to savour the richness of coffee while advocating for all aspects of sustainability.”

On signing the Agreement, HRH Prince Khalid Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud commented, “This is a remarkable day for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as we join the International Coffee Organization.

“For years, people of Saudi Arabia enjoyed the delights of traditional Arabic coffee, which has a 600 years history and is still regarded as a hallmark of Arabian hospitality today, and is inextricably linked to traditional identity.

“The coffee sector in Saudi Arabia is growing fast and is an important part of our plans for the future and the change we wish to bring to our country as it contributes to diversifying the national economy. Public Investment Fund (PIF) launched the Saudi Coffee Company in May 2022, which is investing $319 million over the next ten years to support the growth of the national coffee industry, with the goal of boosting the country’s production from 300 tons per year to 2500 tons per year, and focusing on achieving sustainability, across the production, distribution and marketing aspects of the coffee supply chain.

“We see ICO, and this updated agreement, as a key to achieving our hopes and ambitions for the coffee industry locally and globally, and we look forward to working with colleagues at ICO to secure a positive and thriving future for coffee in the years and decades to come.”

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Acknowledging the ambitious sector-level goals of the 2030 Roadmap agreed upon and adopted by the
International Coffee Council (ICC) and Coffee Private Public Task Force (CPPTF), the declaration reaffirms the signatories’ commitment to realising a common vision for the coffee sector. This vision centres on economic resilience, celebrates the diversity of coffee origins, and champions environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation through circularity, regenerative production, trade, and consumption. It also highlights the need to preserve natural ecosystems in coffee-producing countries worldwide, 42 of which are Members of the ICO.

Central to this commitment is addressing the root causes of the many social and economic obstacles faced by producers. To overcome these challenges, lift communities out of poverty and nurture a thriving sector for future generations, the signatories have pledged to identify solutions to make coffee the most sustainable, inclusive and resilient agricultural sector and enable compliance with the prevailing regulatory framework. They have also reiterated the importance of harnessing effective multilateral dialogue and expressed their intent to further mobilise and align actors and resources from governments, the private sector and civil society.

“With our distinct and complementary strengths, we are united in our pursuit of a prosperous future for the farmers behind the 2.94 billion cups of coffee we consume every day. Today’s signature highlights the ICO, GCP and the German Government’s dedication to elevating the sector and implementing effective joint initiatives to achieve our common goals” – Vanúsia Nogueira, executive director, ICO.

“Global and local multistakeholder cooperation is essential to meaningful sector transformation. It is only through focused collective action that we can tackle the threats to sustainable coffee production and consumption. GCP has been working with coffee-producing countries, our GCP Membership and partners to address systemic issues hindering the development and prosperity of coffee farming communities. We are buoyed by the commitment shown today and excited with the prospect of more organisations joining for accelerated impact at scale.” – Annette Pensel, executive director, GCP.

“Germany is dedicated in its support to the advancement of the global coffee sector towards a more
sustainable, inclusive and resilient future. This joint declaration with ICO and GCP articulates our shared vision for a sustainable and equitable future, addressing key issues and aligning with the sector-level goals outlined in the 2030 Roadmap of the ICO Taskforce.” – Dr Ariane Hildebrandt, director general, BMZ.

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Having collaborated on numerous initiatives over the years, the SCA and ICO, bound by this MoU, aim to harness their combined outreach and expertise. This dynamic partnership sets out to design and implement interventions that will benefit coffee stakeholders worldwide through knowledge-sharing, education, and capacity building. Under the MoU, both organizations pledge to create training programs and foster skill development across diverse segments of the coffee value chain — from production and trade to roasting, brewing, and preparation methods.

Notably, the MoU outlines a joint commitment to expanding market promotion and encouraging the consumption of high-quality coffee. The SCA and ICO are united in their mission to facilitate constructive dialogue, linking ICO Members, industry experts, and coffee professionals. This collaboration and the programs to follow will actively promote sustainable practices and will provide increased visibility in specialty markets, with an emphasis on attributes, consuming markets, communication, and skill building. This program aims to empower producer organizations to access specialty coffee and embrace higher value trading models through the use of the SCA Coffee Value Assessment and its tools.

This agreement reflects the dedication of the Specialty Coffee Association to make coffee a thriving equitable and sustainable activity for the entire value chain, in tandem with the International Coffee Organization.

On this partnership, Vanúsia Nogueira, executive director of the ICO stated, “Promoting comprehensive training is not just a necessity; it is one of the most important elements to fuel the future of the coffee sector. Education and skills development are the keys to unlocking the full potential of our industry, ensuring a robust foundation for sustainable growth, fostering innovation, and empowering every actor in the value chain, from bean to cup. The specialty coffee segment is synonymous with quality and excellence, and I am confident that many stakeholders, especially in coffee producing countries, will benefit from this important partnership with SCA.”

Yannis Apostolopoulos, chief executive officer of the SCA added, “[This] signature marks a significant stride towards sustainability by creating new opportunities for knowledge transfer across the coffee sector. The SCA is committed to supporting institutions, organizations, and platforms in the coffee sector who are dedicated to building an equitable and sustainable industry, and the association believes that collaborative and diverse approaches, like this partnership with the ICO, will play a crucial role in making the rewards of the specialty coffee segment accessible worldwide.”

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The award, named after the visionary leader of illycaffè and the son of the company’s founder, celebrates the work that the Trieste, Italy-based company has been doing every day for the last 30 years, side-by-side with coffee farmers, to offer the best possible sustainable coffee. The award was presented to the winner by illycaffè chairman Andrea Illy during an event held at the New York Public Library in New York.

EIICA celebrates the finest Arabica coffees sourced from all over the world. This event aims to recognize growers for the quality coffee they tirelessly work to produce. The award was assigned by an independent panel of nine experts who examined the best batches from the 2022-2023 harvest through a blind tasting of nine coffees from the nine finalist countries: Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua, and Rwanda. Prior to being evaluated by the panel, each batch of coffee was analysed by illycaffè’s quality control labs and rated in terms of richness and aromatic complexity, the elegance and balance of its flavour and intensity of its aroma.

Guatemala’s Finca Danilandia di Luis Arimany Mondonico won the Coffee Lovers’ Choice Award, assigned by a panel of consumers who, in the weeks prior to the event, carried out blind taste tests of the coffee samples in illy cafés in Trieste, Milan, Paris, London, Sao Paolo and New York and ranked their preferences.

“The absolute victory of the Brazilian coffee coming from regenerative agriculture – chosen blindly among the nine best coffees in the world – fills me with joy. Indeed, the history of the Ernesto Illy Award began in Brazil in 1991 and this confirms that the rewards received, by illycaffè for having transformed Brazil from a leader in quantity to a leader in quality are well-deserved,” said Andrea Illy. “After more than 25 years of neverending and tireless work by our team of agronomists and the University of Coffee, the leap has finally happened thanks to regenerative agriculture, which we decided to develop in 2018 for the benefits it brings to the environment and everyone’s health.”

The panel that voted for the Best of the Best award included Guatemala’s professional taster Silvia Escobar; the President of Federação dos Cafeicultores do Cerrado, Brasilian Glaucio De Castro; the director of the CoffeeLab quality laboratory, Indian Sunalini Narayan Menon; chef Ricard Camarena, who has been awarded two Michelin stars and a green star for his dedication to sustainability at his Ricard Camarena Restaurant in Valencia; American chefs Carrie and Rupert Blease, who manage the Michelin-starred Lord Stanley restaurant in San Francisco; Andrea Aprea, a Michelin-starred chef with a restaurant bearing his name in Milan; French writer and journalist Adelaide de Clermont-Tonnere, editor-in-chief of Point de Vue magazine; Inga Griese, founder and editor-in-chief of ICON, the style supplement of the German newspaper Welt Am Sonntag; Angelina Villa Clarke, a journalist contributing to prestigious English-language publications including Forbes.

Commenting on the winning coffee, the jury said, “This year’s Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award winner is a rounded, wholesome, and fully bodied cup, with rich yet mellow flavors of a balance of chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, and toasted almonds on a bed of refined brightness, with a lingering finish of mild, gentle, yet harmonious sweetness. It truly represents the finest taste characteristics of its origin.”

Martha Stewart, Matilda De Angelis, Pat Cleveland, Coco Rocha, Candela Pelizza, Tamu Mc Pherson, Carlo Sestini, Simon and Marina Ksandr, Nick Lowry, Tesa Pesic are some of the celebrities who attended the gala event at the New York Public Library, hosted by chef and TV star Marcus Samuelsson, to celebrate the best coffee producers who work behind the unique illy blend.

The Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award is also an unmissable networking opportunity for all those involved in the coffee industry, from producers to exporters, from traders to institutional representatives. In the morning they all met at the United Nations Headquarters to attend a panel discussion on protecting the future of coffee. Alongside illycaffè chairman Andrea Illy, speakers included Vanusia Nogueira, executive director, International Coffee Organization; Jeffrey Sachs, professor of economy at Columbia University and co-chair at the Regenerative Society Foundation; Oscar Schaps, president of the Latin American division of Stone X Financial Inc; and Glaucio de Castro, president of the Federação dos Cafeicultores do Cerrado Mineiro. (For a full recap of the event at the UN, see the Editor’s Blog: “The time is now” to invest in regenerative agriculture (teaandcoffee.net).

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I was honoured to moderate yesterday’s morning events at the UN headquarters, which, this year, featured a panel of leading experts in the coffee sector discussing the urgency of preserving and protecting the future of coffee through regenerative agriculture. The panelists also appealed to the international financial community (some of whom were in the audience) to invest in the transition to regenerative agriculture through public and private partnerships. Panelists included: Vanusia Nogueira, executive director, International Coffee Organization (ICO); Jeffrey Sachs, economy professor at Columbia University (NYC) and co-chair Regenerative Society Foundation; Oscar Schaps, president of the Latin America division of StoneX Financial Inc. and commodity trader; and Glaucio De Castro, president of Federação dos Cafeicultores do Cerrado Mineiro.

Andrea Illy, chairman of illycaffè and co-chair of Regenerative Society Foundation, kicked off the panel discussion reminding the audience of the impact the low and volatile coffee prices have had on farming communities. He explained that improvements the ‘caffeculture’ has achieved in recent decades through the process of de-commoditization – improvements that still have a long way to go before achieving economic, social and environmental sustainability – are at risk of being reversed due to climate change. Regenerative agriculture, Illy said, has proven to be more resilient and to produce both environmental and health benefits. “Today we have proof that this model works, it is essential to implement it.”

Glaucio De Castro, president of Federação dos Cafeicultores do Cerrado Mineiro (Brazil) is a pioneer of regenerative agriculture. He began transitioning to regenerative agriculture several ago, and although he admits it is challenging and changes and tweaks were – and still are – De Castro sees the benefits and believes regenerative agriculture is the “[way to go].”

While regenerative agriculture is the agreed upon model by the panelists, it is costly — it requires investments of approximately US $10 billion over the next ten years. Of course, producing countries do not have sufficient economic-financial capacity, so it is necessary to create private and public partnerships that can generate international supply chain funds (this challenge is nothing new as governmental, intergovernmental, non-governmental and private stakeholders have been involved or approached for many years).

“To have a future in coffee we need to think about the planet and the people involved,” said Vanusia Nogueira, executive director, ICO. “It’s part of our responsibility as leaders of this sector to look for alternatives to provide good life to the producers and their families and also to take care of our planet. It’s clear that the challenges are big enough to not be addressed individually but in a collective and pre-competitive effort. Together I believe we can find impactful solutions.”

Economist Jeffrey Sachs, who is an internationally recognized leader in the field of sustainable development, said that true economic development aims to transform our society by creating sustainable increases in wellbeing through investments in human capital, physical infrastructure, and business enterprise, all with attention to the preserve natural capital on which our economy and survival depend.

“My morning coffee will never be grown in Central Park but will continue to be grown in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Colombia, Vietnam, and elsewhere. A well-managed developing country with access to major markets and international finance can grow very quickly,” Sachs continued, noting, “after decades of severe human-induced environmental degradation, we need to transform our economies to the core principles of sustainable development and the regeneration of natural capital. The most basic principle of all is to act for the common good. This means that we must start from cooperation within our communities, our nations, and globally.”

Andrea Illy concluded the panel discussion explaining that two things are needed for adaptation to climate change: improved agronomic practices and the renewal of plantations with more resistant varieties. “Regenerative agriculture seems to provide an answer to the first need, and I hope that this will become a model for the whole ‘caffeculture’. As far as renewal is concerned, we need to speed up considerably. All this requires supply chain investments that cannot be delayed any longer.”

The 8^th Ernesto Illy International Award ‘Best of the Best’ and ‘Coffee Lovers Choice’ winners were announced at an evening gala at the New York Public Library. The 2023 ‘Best of the Best’ winner is São Mateus Agropecuária from Brazil and the 2023 ‘Coffee Lover’s Choice’ winner is Finca Danilandia from Guatemala.

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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“Innovative and effective public-private cooperation is key to promote farmers prosperity, improved social well-being and conservation of nature in coffee producing countries,” said Annette Pensel, GCP executive director.

“By renewing and deepening our partnership with the ICO, GCP acknowledges that public private dialogue, conducive policies, along with a mix of financing mechanisms to enable sector transformation, are essential to achieve our shared goals.”

In line with the International Coffee Agreement 2022, which sets out a new institutional framework, including, for the first time, the private sector and civil society as affiliate members, and foresees the transformation of the CPPTF into a permanent Working Party. The MoU signed acknowledges the important role GCP will play in contributing to achieving the CPPTF Roadmap 2030. This includes the successful delivery of the platform’s recently-approved GCP 2030 Goal on farmers’ prosperity and coffee sustainability through focused and measurable collective action at local and global levels.

“Within this coordination and collaboration we believe that farmer prosperity must be at the core of any sustainability programme to bring lasting, systemic change on challenges such as climate change, regulations and human rights.

“This change can only be achieved through effective sector cooperation and smart investments.” Commented Annette Pensel, GCP executive director

Collaboration and commitment

“Only a common approach to the future development of the sector can create achievable opportunities and pave the way for a sustainable, resilient and inclusive coffee sector. Through the CPPTF, the ICO intends to strengthen its partnerships to advance initiatives that ensure greater economic, ecological and livelihood sustainability for future generations of farmers,” said Vanusia Nogueira, executive director of the ICO.

“We are proud today to sign the MOU with the GCP and we look forward to the future role this agreement will play in the development of the sector locally and globally.”

The ICO has a goal of economic resilience and developing pathways to prosperity for coffee farmers. This goal is underpinned by ambitious public-private cooperation which has the greatest potential to drive the sector’s sustainability and ensure a prosperous income level for farmers. The MoU between ICO and GCP confirms shared commitment to promoting sustainable development as a means of achieving social and economic progress in coffee producing countries.

The continuation of the partnership falls in line with GCP’s new strategy to become the change agent around farmer prosperity through advancing coffee sustainability in collective action. Through the GCP Network of Coffee Sustainability Platforms in producing countries, the learnings harvested through the partnership can be further discussed and scaled.

Both organisations will continue to work together around relevant Sustainable Development Goals. This includes enhancing coordination and collaboration, strengthening the enabling environment for systemic change and enabling more efficient and effective use of resources.

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The International Coffee Organization (ICO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) play a complementary role in promoting the realisation of and the need for sustainable, responsible and inclusive workplace practices.

On this year’s International Coffee Day (ICD) – 1 October 2023 – the ICO and ILO are jointly launching the #CoffeePeople campaign and a social media challenge around the theme “promoting the right to a safe and healthy working environment in the coffee supply chain.”

A celebration of the coffee sector’s diversity, quality and dedication, International Coffee Day is an opportunity for coffee lovers to share their passion for the beverage and acknowledge and support the work of millions of coffee farmers, as well of all those women and men engaged in producing, trading, retailing, and serving coffee.

The #CoffeePeople campaign will also raise awareness of ILO’s Vision Zero Fund, a G7 and G20 initiative that brings stakeholders together to advance towards the vision of achieving zero severe and fatal work-related accidents, injuries, and diseases in global supply chains.

In recognition of International Coffee Day, the ICO and ILO are co-hosting a series of events. These initiatives will establish new resources and opportunities aimed at enhancing the working conditions for coffee sector workers, in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The campaign will seek the direct involvement of some producing and consuming countries, international organisations active in the coffee sector, coffee brands and celebrities. Join the campaign by sharing a selfie with your coffee cup and dedicating it to coffee workers.

The companies are counting on your support and enthusiasm to help spread the word about the #CoffeePeople campaign via your own platforms, and to follow the celebrations on International Coffee Day, on 1 October 2023.

Vanúsia Nogueira, executive director of the ICO, commented, “All workers deserve to enjoy decent and safe working conditions. This implies, as a minimum, rules for working hours, adequate payment of wages and effective monitoring of health and safety at work. The coffee sector, which employs millions of people around the world, can be a model of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, where all workers are treated with dignity and respect. We are working hard towards this. I am proud that today, together with the ILO, the ICO is committed to leading and modelling a better coffee workplace to meet all challenges.

Promoting respect for international labour rights and helping key stakeholders commit to upholding these rights is essential to achieve inclusive growth, strengthen the stability and sustainability of the coffee sector, and improve the quality of life for workers.”

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The ceremony was attended by the country’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Celso Correia, as well as representatives from the country’s growing coffee sector, overseen by Amocafé, in the presence of the ICO’s executive director, Vanúsia Nogueira.

Mozambican coffee is celebrated for its commitment to habitat restoration and biodiversity preservation. It also relies on partnerships with rural communities, enabling local farmers to benefit from training and access to resources and markets. The country’s coffee industry is dedicated to long-term sustainability through initiatives such as organic farming, agroforestry and resource diversification within Protected Areas.

In Gorongosa, where the National Park was ravaged by civil war and lost almost all its wildlife, the introduction of green beans originating in Mozambique has provided a long-term incentive for local communities to protect a rainforest that was previously disappearing at a rate of over 100 hectares a year, as the crop is grown in the shade of native trees. 100 per cent of the profits from green bean cultivation are returned to the local community.

Similarly, on the misty highlands of the Chimanimani mountains, organic coffee is produced as part of an agroforestry system, which includes reforestation of degraded and deforested areas of the reserve to safeguard the soil, flora and fauna.

These practices aim to preserve the country’s rich biodiversity while actively involving local communities. By joining the ICO, Mozambique hopes to contribute to the development of global policies on coffee sustainability and participate in in the exchange of knowledge with other coffee-producing nations.

The country’s oldest coffee is Café de Ibo, which has been grown on Ibo and Quirimba islands since it was first introduced by the Arab traders in the 11th Century and is to this day largely grown in the traditional manner. Ibo coffee is a rare naturally low caffeine coffee and has long been a favourite of those who knew of it, including the judges at the Gold Medal Award in Lisbon in 1906 when it won.

Celso Correia, Mozambique’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, commented, “This is a historic day for Mozambique as we join the International Coffee Organisation. Our coffee sector is growing fast and is an important part of our plans for the future and the change we wish to bring to our country. It is also one at the heart of our plans for sustainability. Coffee is being grown in areas that include some of the most biodiverse in the world and we are committed to ensuring that the crop’s growth supports the protection of the natural environment.

“The Government is working closely with rural farmers to support them in the industry, and we have created systems that ensure the vast majority of profits go back to those who grow the crop. Mozambique wants people to experience how every sip of its coffee tells a story – one of heritage, passion and the richness of its land. By choosing Mozambican coffee, consumers will not only enjoy a unique taste experience, but also support local farmers and their sustainable practices, and help preserve the biodiversity of the country’s landscapes. Mozambique is proud to now be part of the world’s coffee producing nations. We look forward to more and more people being able to enjoy Mozambique’s coffee in the years and decades to come.”

Vanúsia Nogueira, ICO executive director, said, “Today we celebrate a historic day for the ICO with the entry of a new member, Mozambique, also a signatory to the new ICA 2022. It is important for us to emphasise that our engagement with Mozambique, as with all our Members, is not solely defined by the challenges facing the global coffee community, but first and foremost by the opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we will advance shared priorities that have the potential to diversify economies, build resilience and, ultimately, deliver concrete results for people.

“I am convinced that Mozambique’s contribution, as a full partner of the ICO and the new ICA, will be crucial in shaping the coffee industry for a bright, sustainable future. Sustainability is not a goal, but a path that we must constantly create with our Members and partners to continuously improve the coffee sector: Welcome,Mozambique, to the world coffee family, as the 27^th African coffee-producing country to become a Member of the ICO.”

The six Mozambique coffee brands now to be exported internationally are:

• Nossa Gorongosa, which is grown in the National Park by Gorongosa Mountain;
• Café Chimanimani, which is coffee with a full-bodied experience and velvety texture;
• Café Niassa, which prioritises organic practices and works closely with local farmers;
• Café Vumba, which has adopted woman-focused organic farming practices;
• Café de Manica, which is cultivated in the picturesque Mussapa mountains;
• Café de Ibo, which is the country’s oldest coffee grown on the sandy shores of the Indian Ocean.

The signing ceremony was followed by a celebratory coffee morning at London’s Groucho Club in Soho that was attended by a diverse group of Mozambique coffee lovers including roasting companies and representatives of international organisations as well as celebrities and artists. Among those in attendance were American philanthropist Greg Carr, celebrated artist Gavin Turk, chef Mark Hix, three times winner of Barista of the Year Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood, business leader Tami Longaberger and Koffee UK founder Marco Arigo.

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The country has been a Member of the Agreement since 1964, which aims to promote exchange and cooperation between consumer and producer countries. During the renegotiation of the ICA 2007, due to expire in February 2024, Stefanie Küng of Switzerland chaired the Working Group on the Future of the Agreement which enabled the drafting and approval of the new ICA 2022. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and maintaining its intergovernmental nature, the new Agreement is characterised by streamlined and more effective governance, a fairer distribution of contributions that reflects the actual value distribution in the coffee global value chain, and stronger cooperation with and integration of the private sector and civil society. What’s more, it gives a clear mandate to the ICO Secretariat to assist Members to mobilise resources in order to realise their coffee sectors’ full potential and act sustainably.

Switzerland forms an integral part of the global coffee landscape. With an average of US$2.2 bn in net trade, Swiss companies are heavily involved in the international coffee market and Swiss coffee roasters play a leading economic role internationally. Around 10% of the world’s coffee export value is attributed to Switzerland, with its citizens enjoying 16.2 million cups every day.

The ratification of the ICA 2022 will further contribute to the sustainable development of the coffee sector at a national and global level by benefiting and involving all actors in the value chain. This includes not only coffee exporting and importing countries, but also coffee farmers, the industry, civil society, and development and financial partners, all of whom contribute towards the overall transformation of the sector.

The ICA remains one of the most significant international economic agreements ever negotiated and has a vital and immediate impact on the lives of millions of people worldwide, and an indirect effect on hundreds of millions more, influencing the political and economic future of many countries. The new ICA 2022 will address the challenges facing the sector through the multilateral channel rather than country-to-country negotiations, strengthening the key role played by the Organization as the centre of “coffee diplomacy” and reaffirming the ICO and its Coffee Public-Private Task Force as the main forum for multi-stakeholder discussions on coffee-related issues at the public and private levels.

Executive director of the ICO, Vanúsia Nogueira, said:

“Many countries have already signed the ICA 2022 and now Switzerland has shown that with strong political commitment the parliamentary process of ratification can be completed promptly and efficiently. In order to enter into force definitively, signatory governments holding at least two-thirds of the votes of the exporting Members and at least two-thirds of the votes of the importing Members must have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval.

“Because of the importance of coffee in world trade and its great social, economic and political significance to so many countries, we have a duty to shape this area of international cooperation and regulation with regard to the global sector. Thanks to Switzerland, we can inaugurate a new era for the ICO and provide an important precedent for future collective efforts in the international economic and commodity field.”

Markus Leitner, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United Kingdom, said:

“Thanks to innovative technologies in the roasting, processing and capsulating of coffee, Switzerland is a leading trading and exporting hub for coffee. We are convinced that the new ICA 2022 represents a strong instrument to promote sustainability in the coffee industry, while ensuring cooperation between governments, the private sector and civil society.”

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Research published by the BCA shows that the UK has a flourishing coffee industry – the nation drinks approximately 98 million cups of coffee every day, with the industry creating over 210,000 UK jobs. The BCA represents, promotes, and supports all aspects of the UK coffee trade – to the media, politicians, and the public. Minister Spencer signed the landmark 2022 agreement in London in the presence of the executive directors of the ICO and BCA, as well as key UK coffee industry representatives. The Agreement is the eighth of its kind since the first ICA, signed in 1962 at the United Nations in New York, which established the ICO with its headquarters in London. The ICO is the only intergovernmental organisation for coffee, bringing together exporting and importing governments to tackle the challenges facing the coffee sector through international co-operation.

The 2022 Agreement marks a gearshift in the way the ICO operates, for the first time in its 60-year history giving a more prominent role to the private sector in its decision making process, alongside national governments. The signing of the new ICA is particularly important to the UK, as the host State for the ICO and a key coffee-importing nation.

Upon the signing, the Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP, Food and Drink Minister, said, “I’m honoured to sign the International Coffee Agreement on behalf of the UK. We may be known for our tea, but we Brits drink almost 100 million cups of coffee every single day, worth around £5billion pounds per year to the economy, with the industry employing thousands of people around the country. This international treaty champions the industry globally, and I hope the UK can help continue its drive for new standards of sustainability for our coffee.”

Paul Rooke, executive director of the British Coffee Association, said, “The British Coffee Association warmly welcomes the UK’s signing of the 2022 International Coffee Agreement, demonstrating a real commitment from the Government to the future success of our industry. This new agreement seeks to strengthen the role of the private sector, within its overall objectives for a commercially and environmentally sustainable coffee industry.

Rooke continued, “Promoting consumer choice by maintaining a diverse range of coffee origins, while underpinning the need for a profitable income for producers, is an ambition which BCA works towards in close co-ordination with industry and other coffee associations. We see the ICO, and this updated agreement, as key components of delivering that ambition, and look forward to working with Government Departments and colleagues at ICO to ensure the UK plays a central role in securing a positive future for coffee.”

Commenting on behalf of the ICO, its executive director, Vanúsia Nogueira, said, “It’s a great honour to have with us the Rt Hon Mark Spencer, Minister of State for Food, Farming, and Fisheries, and Paul Rooke, executive director of the British Coffee Association, and we thank you for your leadership and your commitment to building a prosperous future for the coffee sector. Today, we celebrate a remarkable moment in the longstanding partnership between the International Coffee Organization and the United Kingdom, but also in the 60-year history of the ICO. The signature of the new International Coffee Agreement (ICA 2022) by the United Kingdom opens a new chapter in our relationship with our host country”.

She added that the ICA 2022 prioritises not only a strengthened cooperation between the ICO and signatory governments but also, for the first time, stronger partnerships with the private sector and civil society. “We are confident that today’s signature will contribute to bringing together coffee farmers in producing countries with industry and consumers in the United Kingdom. Today’s signature is only the beginning. Much challenging work lies ahead. I look forward to working with you to advance the coffee sector and to shape a successful future that is truly sustainable, resilient and inclusive.”

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In line with the Task Force Roadmap 2020-2030, members of the ICO Coffee Public-Private Task Force (CPPTF) have committed to jointly implementing activities to close the living income gap to reach prosperity for target producers in at least 50% of the ICO Member coffee-producing countries by 2030. To that end, the Roadmap foresees establishing living income benchmarks in 80% of ICO Member producing countries by 2025.

Therefore, the Living Income Benchmark studies are designed to support the governments of the target coffee-producing countries to better identify the most effective strategies and activities to improve prosperity of their coffee sector. The studies will inform investment plans, developed in collaboration with private sector and civil society stakeholders, to advance a prosperous coffee sector for all actors. Ultimately, the studies form an essential step in reaching a sustainable and prosperous future for coffee producers and the sector as a whole.

To achieve the studies, NewForesight uses a proxy benchmark methodology – formally recognised through the IDH Living Income Benchmark Recognition process – based on the Anker principles, while adding a distinct complementary value. Throughout this process, the team will closely collaborate with the regional coffee platforms mentioned above and national government representatives of each country.

The living income benchmark will be an important input for the other Technical Workstreams of the Coffee Public-Private Task Force, which focus on: market transparency, market policies & institutions, resilient coffee landscapes, and sector coordination & inclusion of women and youth. By identifying synergies and complementary activities between the workstreams, a comprehensive response to the challenges facing the coffee sector is being established.

Partners quotes:

“Recent studies showed that the average earnings of small-scale farmers in the coffee industry would not reach what is needed to ensure a basic and decent standard of living, even less for a prosperous livelihood. Therefore, defining a living income benchmark, measuring income gaps, and developing effective strategies to close these gaps is key to consider when engaging on living income. As a sector-wide platform aiming at shifting the coffee sector towards a prosperous income for coffee farmers, the ICO Coffee Public-Private Task Force aims to facilitate strong government and sector-level action on living income and to develop living income strategies that will benefit the most vulnerable farmers, representing an effective pathway to greater environmental, social and gender inclusivity. More than ever, we should champion innovative and system-level change processes involving both business and government to address this essential issue, which is crucial to ensure the sustainability of the global coffee sector.” – Vanúsia Nogueira, executive director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO)

“PROMECAFE’s members are well aware of the environmental and social benefits that the coffee producers provide their countries and the global community. However, if the sector is not economical viable and resilient, and cannot allow for all farmers to earn a living income and achieve prosperity, these benefits will be lost. To achieve this the entire coffee sector must work together. For this reason, we are collaborating with the ICO’s Coffee Private Public Task Force to identify what the income gaps are and using this fact-based approach to collectively work together at the national, regional and international level, to close those gaps” – Ing. René León Gómez, Executive Secretary PROMECAFE

“As a consultancy we are committed to market-driven sustainability and driving sustainable transitions. The ICO, with its members of the CPPTF, has made a bold commitment towards a living and prosperous income of coffee producers, and we are proud to support the group over the coming year developing living income benchmarks, assessing the income gaps, and providing strategic advice on how to jointly move forward towards a better future for coffee farmers, and the sector as a whole.” – Daniel Viviers-Rasmussen, principal consultant & Domain Lead, NewForesight Consultancy.

“Living Income Analysis is an effective, credible tool to identify what producers, in particular smallholders, need for a decent standard of living on the pathway to prosperity. Its real value is in framing and informing collective action to achieve income improvements to close income gaps. For this reason, the work of the ICO’s CPPTF is an exciting and unique opportunity to work at scale throughout this globally important sector and use Living and Prosperous Income as a tool to support achieving an economically and environmentally resilient coffee sector.”- Chris Wunderlich, co-facilitator of ICO’s Living and Prosperous Income Work Stream and director, Agrofuturo Global.

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The World Coffee Producers Forum is a non-profit organisation that was formed to analyse and address the challenges faced by the coffee value chain, especially concerning those who grow and produce coffee, that is, the farmers. An estimated 70% to 80% of the world’s coffee is produced by smallholders, but it comes as no surprise that the sector (as does the tea industry) still faces major environmental, economic and social issues. The WCPF believes all stakeholders must mutually aligned and working towards a common goal. 

The WCPF encouraged dialogue between the key experts and producing countries’ representatives on how to proactively address the challenges faced by the coffee value chain worldwide while improving the livelihoods of smallholder coffee growers.  

“Beyond the increase of wages and incomes, the real challenge is to achieve the growers’ and their communities’ prosperity and create sustainable living conditions for future generations of farmers,” said Juan Esteban Orduz, president of the Colombian Coffee Federation, Inc and chairman of the WCPF. 

One of the questions raised at the forum was how roles can be balanced between public interventions and private strategies to really benefit the rural communities and foster the long-term sustainability of the sector worldwide. 

Vanúsia Nogueira, who assumed the role of executive director of the London-based International Coffee Organization (ICO), in May, shared that “to meet the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] and address the challenges of the coffee sector, we need an effective public-private partnerships framework. The ICO Coffee Public-Private Task Force is a unique opportunity to enhance dialogue and build consensus between all actors, with a view to achieving coordinated action for a sustainable and prosperous coffee sector at local and global levels.” 

The WCPF also focused on the importance of aligning producing regions with the SDGs through strategic plans for supporting producers and promoting sustainable coffee production. According to the WCPF, the SDGs stimulus is crucial to raising funds and investments in reliable ways and to developing strategic plans which will serve as a shared framework for public and private coordinated actions. 

Prof Jeffrey D Sachs, who is a member of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, explained how each coffee-producing country should develop an SDG-framed ‘National Coffee Sustainability Plan’, which accounts for the different needs, challenges and opportunities within that country’s coffee sector.  

He said there are six SDG-based complementary investments around the coffee growing itself, that are essential: school and education; investment in healthcare; electrification based on energy decarbonization; sustainable use of land and biodiversity; sustainable infrastructures; and digital access and services. 

WCPF participants noted that the challenge is how to address the deep sustainability concerns acknowledged by coffee sector stakeholders to meet the changes and opportunities related to the coffee demand that will occur over the coming decades. The WCPF concluded that social and environmental sustainability must be intrinsically linked to overcome the multiple issues that could increasingly disrupt the coffee value chain at both the local and global levels. 

The next WCPF Forum is scheduled to take place in person 13 – 14 February 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda.

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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Going forward, the private sector and civil society will participate as Affiliate Members in key discussions and decisions on the sustainable future of global coffee affairs with 75 coffee producing and importing nations, ICO Member Governments. The goal of the 2022 International Coffee Agreement (ICA) is to find new ways to improve conditions in an over USD $300 billion a year industry that provides a livelihood for millions of people from farmers to baristas across the world. Indeed, coffee farmers have suffered much in the wake of a 2019 coffee pricing crisis, extreme weather including droughts, flooding, frosts and blight, resulting in crop losses and prompting many to quit a business that had been in their family for generations. Smallholders, who only have less than one or two hectares of land each to produce coffee, for example, are the most vulnerable with incomes of just USD $500 a year.

The chair of the International Coffee Council (ICC), H.E. Ambassador Iván Romero-Martínez of Honduras, stressed that with the approval of the new ICA, the ICC marked a new era for the ICO, its members, the global coffee sector and for millions of coffee farmers whose work, every day, allow us to taste a wonderful coffee. He further pointed out that ICO members showed the world that the coffee sector is strong and united as ICO reaffirms itself as the centre of the ‘coffee diplomacy’, committed to making the coffee value chain more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.

“We are entering a new era of cooperation with the private sector thanks to the landmark International Coffee Agreement 2022,” said Vanusia Nogueira, who joined in May as the ICO’s first female executive director. “The arrival of the world’s biggest high-street names and manufacturers as well as smallholders means that the whole coffee value chain can now address the biggest challenges facing the global sector in a way that is fair for all,” she added.

The new ICA goes beyond the traditional divide between exporting and importing members as all members are committed to working together to address the increasing challenges of the coffee industry. The private sector and government entities will coordinate strategies to address more efficiently those challenges. This will benefit producers across 50 countries as coffee growers and their associations will be able to raise their concerns directly with retailers and manufacturers.

Moreover, the new ICA gives a clear and firm mandate to the ICO Secretariat to assist members in putting together coffee sector development projects and mobilising resources in areas such as pest and disease control, climate change adaptation among other mitigating strategies. This comes at a time when expanding demand for coffee will contribute to maintaining a balance between supply and demand, supporting fair market prices.

“The industry has changed dramatically in the last 30 years in terms of governance and value distribution between producing and consumer nations. We can now come together and put a bigger emphasis on the development of the global circular coffee economy. Ultimately, we want to create a brighter future for millions of coffee farmers by adhering to the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals and work for more transparency, quality and fair pricing for billions of consumers. The new agreement is a huge step in this direction,” said Nogueira.

The new ICA represents a fresh mandate for the ICO. It is the seventh of its kind since 1962 after the first International Coffee Agreement at the United Nations in New York defined coffee export quotas. The 2022 ICA has come a long way since then, now that the ICO can bring all parties to the table for the first time and tackle challenges through international private and public cooperation, involving its member governments, which represent 93% of world coffee production and 63% of world consumption. Today, the world drinks more than two billion cups of coffee a day.

“The new agreement is an effective instrument to paving the way to a more unified front, establishing a consensus and shared vision on how to best implement and promote actions by governments and the private sector, while also engaging all key coffee-related institutions, NGOs, international and financial institutions plus other development partners, research bodies and academia,” said Nogueira, who previously represented Brazil, the world’s biggest coffee producer, in global coffee affairs as the executive director of the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association.

While the ICO will not change its intergovernmental nature, as part of the Agreement, the current Coffee Public-Private Task Force has been integrated into the ICO as the Coffee Public-Private Working Party. On top of this, the Private Sector Consultative Board will be transformed into the Board of Affiliate Members, creating a new institutional framework and leading to the non-government affiliation since 1963 when the ICO was established in London.

The ICA’s key points also redefine the ICO’s internal voting system and members’ contributions to better reflect the transformation in the global coffee chain over the last 30 years, accounting for distortions between producing (exporting) and consumer (importing) countries as well as Arabica versus Robusta coffee-producing nations. The change in membership contributions to the administrative budget will increase the financial sustainability of the Organization and its capacity to carry out its mandate.

In terms of production, the world produces 4.18 million tonnes of Robusta coffee, or 69.67 million 60-kg bags a year, and 6.07 million tonnes of Arabica, or 101.16 million 60-kg bags, annually as of 2020. This is up from 1.74 million tonnes of Robusta and 4.34 million tonnes for Arabica coffee in 1991.

For more information, visit: ico.org.

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