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NOW! 2010 World Coffee Conference Guatemala!
http://www.wcc2010guatemala.com/
We have already talked about small coffee growers access to global markets, but we must talk about the sustainability of the whole coffee supply chain. That's why we are proposing this debate for you my friends!
Using the power of social networks, we will post this debate on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Cafés do Brasil Network and other social networks.
Let's see what the world has to say about coffee sustainability!
Let's debate WCC 2010 topics? Coffee Sustainability, what is it?
Dear sir,
Theoritically, coffee sustainability is sustainable for social, economic, and environmental of coffee production. But here, especially in Lampung Province-Indonesia, which is known as one of Robusta coffee source, Sustainability is just a DREAM.
Why? because of the lower Robusta Price compared with Cocoa Price.
We have develop several farmers to be sustainable coffee farmers and unfortunately, at present, most of them have cut off their (robusta) coffee trees and change to cocoa.
Will the Robusta coffee in Lampung sustain if the farmers cut the trees and change to cocoa??
So we would kindly ask you to convey the message of our sustainability coffee farmers to the participant of WCC 2010 about this price issue because the farmers have suffered with this lower price of Robusta while they are very happy with the high price of cocoa.
Debate on LinkedIn community: Specialty Coffee Professionals
In my opinion It has to include all the three pillars (economic, environmental and social). There is no sustainability without economic viabilit. This last one is often forgotten...
I agree with Anita that there should be economic sustainabilty in whatever operation we take up. It however helps when consumers realize the extra costs involved in sustainable farming and pay the premium to partially cover these costs.
I agree, about the economic issue being at the top of the chart so far, not only on the coffee business but in all business around the world. Maybe this can help to explain the extreme economic differences among producers in third world countries if compare with big roasters and regular consumers within the developed countries. Yet, I also believe the economic sustainability can´t be all or first, at lease not by it self alone, because an integral consideration need to be place about the social and envirolment sustainability, and also taking in acount the competiviness and fairness issues too.
Surprisingly enough, for this year a doctoral study was approved by an spanish university (UEM-IHCAFE), to evaluate the sustainable development within the coffee industry of Honduras. So, if you know any person or organization supporting the effort please let me know.
I think you would be right to include all four elements that you mentioned for real sustainability. I recently had the pleasure of visiting a small eco friendly, family run placed in Panama called Riuz Cafe where this is done very well. They produce some of the best coffee in the world and it is done with care for the environment, the local communities who pick it (paying fair wages, free accomodation/health care etc and also try to sell at a fair price which keeps them in business and the buyers happy.. probably some faults with it. Other farms locally are selling up as it is difficult to leverage this properly, and the short term prospects of selling the land for real estate development is much easier.
My beef with Starbucks is its delivery on sustainability which should be better. With the profitability of coffee, I think Starbucks can afford to (without increasing its consumer prices)... and should have 100% coffee from fairtrade origin across the globe, rather than its advertised percentage it has. Like companies such as Benneton who bought estancias in Patagonia and turned poorly run sheep farms into profitable, environmentally friendly places, surely it would be in Starbucks best interest to do similar, thus creating sustainability through effective end to end coffee production to consumption.
To some this may smack of neo imperialism, but it can do wonders for sustainability as there is direct control of a large corporation which has CSR as a key component of its brand.
President, Buena Vista Roastery & Bongo Billy's Coffees
This is a difficult question, primarily because the context of the term 'sustainability' is so subjective. We have listed three elements: Social, Economic, Environmental, and people will generally agree that the triple-bottom line is desired. But, through what perspective are we talking about? Farmer? Coop? Exporter? Importer? Roaster? Retailer? all along this chain as a whole or compartmentalized? On a community level versus individual? There are many perspectives to take. The first necessity is to agree to a context for the conversation and come to consensus around this context.
After this, the conversation must focus on policy and how to address true intent of any policy that is created - and its root cause - either on a governmental or organizational level.
Just a couple thoughts. There is much more to explore in these areas.
How about sustainability all along the supply chain? From an importer's/exporter's viewpoint, we do not have that now. The exporters are expected to sell short to the importers or directly to roasters. Importers are expected to sell short to roasters 6 months to a year forward. According to the ICO, world production was 123 mln 60-kg bags for 09/10 crop year and world consumption was 130 mln 60-kg bags. Stocks in consuming countries are being drawn down and that is expected to continue for 10/11 crop year.
Differentials are far higher than the level at which the sales were made to importers or roasters. How long does anyone think exporters and importers can survive in this environment?
I think the discussion has been limited to producers for too long.
The roasters have to buy as cheaply as possible, expecially during this recession, to stay competitive with other beverages. Coffee is considered part of the basic food basket for most consumers and they resist price increases fiercely in this economic environment. At the end of the day, the consumer is king and can turn to other beverages if coffee is perceived as "too expensive".
Now we are seeing the rise of "energy drinks." This is a direct competitor to coffee consumption. Any ideas on how to respond to this latest threat?
Dear Paulo, very good question to discuss at any time, specially at the WCC's front door.
The theme is so rich that I suggest we let paralel's discussions like drink's competition for another time.
I agree with Anita about three basic elements. But wonder how Social line includes local culture? Should not sustaintability also care specific about cultural traditions? Let´s think about minorities like african tribes and haitians small coffee producers. Are these cultures beeing contempled with the Sustaintability stamp?
Regards,Ricardo.
