Lecture Description
While not new to the coffee industry, sustainable sourcing continues to reach new heights as industry players try to find more advanced solutions for driving greater biodiversity, climate mitigation and social/worker engagement and equity to ensure that production and harvests live up to the highest ethical standards while also increasing yields. In an effort to create the best working and market conditions, many leaders in the industry have struck out on their own to create sourcing and sustainability solutions for their particular needs, while continuing to engage with industry standards, NGOs and regulatory bodies. Their efforts have had a positive impact on growers and the industry as a whole and have helped to streamline production in remote areas which previously had little sustainability oversight.
Now it’s time to hear their stories.
Join leaders from SCS Global Services and SCS Standards with clients Portland Coffee Roasting, Cooxupé and Expocafé for a panel discussion on the breadth and scope of diverse sourcing strategies each has been involved in. Panelists will discuss:
- New sustainability protocols and standards being developed.
- Sustainable strategy implementation successes and in-the-field learnings.
- The current and future impact of global regulations that are focusing on carbon and deforestation.
- Insights on how producers can meet shifting market needs.
Date: Saturday, April 13, 2024
Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm
Room Number: S401D
Instructor
Kevin Warner (he/him)
Director, ESG Certifications and Strategy, SCS Global Services
Kevin Warner has extensive experience in food systems, working with both small farms and large agribusinesses, and across sectors with leadership roles at NGOs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As the Director of ESG Certifications and Strategy at SCS Global Services, he supports global scheme management and business development functions with subject matter expertise in environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Kevin holds an MBA focused on sustainable business practices from the University of Oxford where he was a Skoll Scholar for Social Entrepreneurship.
Victoria Norman (she/her)
Executive Director, SCS Standards
Victoria is a veteran quality assurance professional with exposure to a diverse range of sustainability standards under different assurance models in natural resources, sustainable agriculture, food safety and manufacturing. She has expertise in standard development and facilitation of stakeholder groups working toward consensus-driven outcomes, as well as experience conducting gap analyses, benchmarking exercises, and dissemination of best practices. Before joining SCS, Victoria held positions at the European Commission and at the ISEAL Alliance. Victoria holds a Master’s degree in Development in Latin America, Bachelor’s degree in Politics and International Relations, and is fluent in English, French and Spanish.
Jeisson Riaño
Sustainability Coordinator, Expocafé
Jeisson Alonso Riaño is an accomplished individual with a strong academic background in Biology, a Master's degree in Geography, and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Environmental Management. For the past seven years, he has been working in the sustainability coffee sector from both academic and business perspectives, conducting scientific research on climate change, deforestation, sustainability programs, developing customized projects, and driving progress on key environmental challenges. Currently, Jeisson is employed in the Marketing and Innovation Department at Expocafé, one of the top coffee exporting companies in Colombia. In his role, he is committed to promoting environmental initiatives such as decarbonization, water use, forest monitoring, and supporting the sustainable strategy at the company.
Dennis Macray
Executive Vice President, Operations, Portland Coffee Roasting
Dennis Macray leads operations at Portland Coffee Roasting and is an independent consultant with experience in developing sustainable supply chains in coffee and cocoa. Dennis has served as an operating partner/advisor on ESG and Impact to the CPG venture capital firm GroundForce Capital (PowerPlant Partners), and advised the Gates Foundation, World Cocoa Foundation, Hershey Company, and Eastern Congo Initiative. Dennis is the former COO at Theo Chocolate, responsible for bean-to-bar chocolate operations and impact sourcing. Dennis also served as Director of Global Responsibility at Starbucks Coffee Company where he led the development of ethical sourcing standards for coffee (C.A.F.E. Practices), cocoa, tea and Starbucks Supplier Social Responsibility Program.
Matheus Franco Severino
ESG Analyst, Cooxupe
Environmental and Health and Safety Engineer. Passionate about Sustainability, Coffee and Cooperativism. Currently part of Cooxupé's ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) department. Responsible for different sustainability projects and promoting sustainability in different sectors of the cooperative."