Lecture Description
The future of coffee is at risk. Climate change, regulatory environment shifts, a lack of young farmers willing to take up the trade, farming communities struggling with intergenerational poverty - these complex challenges threaten the industry that we rely on, and each hinges on a fundamental issue that has been unaddressed for too long. In this panel, moderated by Fairtrade International’s Monika Firl, a representative from an industry leading coffee company and coffee farmers from Guatemala and Ethiopia will discuss the financial foundations of a sustainable coffee industry that addresses the needs of its foundational stakeholder: the farmer.
Regardless of what is happening on a highly speculative NY Commodities Market, coffee farmers have real and continually increasing costs, driven by demands for particular qualities, new legal requirements for export and certifications. The historical record shows that the vast majority of coffee farmers simply aren’t paid enough for their efforts and final product. Meanwhile, we all know that there is no future for the coffee industry if there is no business case for the coffee farmers. Coffee industry leaders will be challenged to consider: Are you investing in the future of coffee with the price you’re paying?
Date: Friday, April 12, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Room Number: N426C
Speakers
Monika Firl (she/her)
Senior Advisor on Coffee, Fairtrade International
Monika has more than 25 years’ experience in coffee, including a decade living in Central America and Mexico, with projects ranging from founding and directing a community-focused, information center on alternative technologies in San Salvador, to coordinating regional Farmer-to-Farmer learning to promote sustainable production and alternative markets. She is the lead author / instigator of the Carbon, Climate and Coffee Initiative and the pilot field study applying the Cool Farm Tool in small-holder, regenerative coffee fields. This cumulative work has fueled her keen interest in the symbiotic role of healthy soils, carbon sequestration and our potential for reversing climate change.
Baltazar Miguel (he/him)
Manager, Farmer, Producer
Since 2023, General Manager of the ASOBAGRI coffee cooperative in Guatemala, president of Comercio Justo Guatemala and Vice President of the Council of Directors of CLAC. He is an economist by profession, passionate about the development of small producers in Latin America and the Caribbean, looking for how to add value
Erkehun Woldegiorgis Hirbaye (he/him)
Producer, Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union/YCFCU
Mr Erkehun Hirbaye is a general manager for Yirgacheffe coffee farmers cooperative union in Ethiopia. The union has over 45 thousands member farmers who are small holder farmer. of He has extensive experience working with coffee grower farmers and international coffee export business with coffee importers and roaster all over the world. He has been working as a General manager over four year and have good knowledge in coffee supply chain from producers to the importers and roasters globally.
Camilo Sanchez
Coffee Sustainability Manager, OFI
Camilo Sanchez is a sustainability development professional with experience leading multi-million dollar projects for the private sector, NGOs, and UN systems. His more than twenty years of experience have given him the ability to design and implement far-reaching and profitable sustainability strategies and foster high-level partnerships. He currently works as a sustainability manager for the coffee business at ofi.