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The adventure of coffee as a global staple can be traced back to Ethiopia, one of the cradles of civilization, where for centuries the first varieties of a still unknown fruit were eagerly cultivated. From there it patiently spread across the African continent, entering Asia via the port of Mocha in the 15th century, and less than two centuries later the merchants of Venice spread it dizzyingly across Europe.
It wasn’t until 1720 that coffee landed in Martinique, finding a home in Latin America and the Caribbean that would eventually become its new place in the world. Since then, coffee has shaped our history and our culture, uniting us across borders and languages. Currently, the region, with leading countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Honduras or Guatemala, contributes almost 60% to global production and coffee creates more than 14 million direct jobs.
Few sectors are embedded in so many geographic points on the planet and bring together so many key dimensions for development. Agriculture, the national production apparatus and the social structures of the growing regions converge around coffee. As the African experience shows, particularly that of Rwanda, which recently hosted the World Producers Forum, coffee is also a valuable element of international projection for country brands, an engine for public-private alliances, and a space for growing interest for academia and academia.
The historical adventure of coffee is honeymooning in Latin America and the Caribbean, where it has emerged as one of the most dynamic, competitive and promising sectors. In the years to come, we must demonstrate Latin American coffee leadership that promotes innovative and sustainable practices that can be replicated in other sectors in the region and also globally, becoming a symbol of green growth.
To achieve this, we must find effective responses to the industry’s biggest threats: climate change and the sustainability of coffee farmers. Coffee producers are increasingly affected by the effects of climate change, which translates into lower quality beans and an increased risk of diseases such as borer. Some studies suggest that by 2050, climate change could affect 75% of the land suitable for Arabica coffee production and 63% of Robusta coffee.
In parallel with climate threats, many consumers are willing to pay high prices for coffee, but farmers receive only a small fraction of that price. With low prices at the beginning of the chain, coffee production does not appear to be economical for many farmers.
Faced with this situation, countries like Colombia, one of the most iconic in terms of coffee production and export, are promoting sustainable, low-carbon, resilient and prosperous coffee farming. In this sense, the National Federation of Coffee Growers and CAF work to build a global vision and a local perspective that allows to understand the needs of the communities and that manages to apply sustainability criteria throughout the production chain.
Coffee production has a very special characteristic: its roots lie in tradition, but its versatility makes it an ideal space for innovation. Here we want to emphasize: training, knowledge building and transfer. The initiative, which is also supported by Columbia University, the UN, the University of Oxford and the World Forum of Coffee Producers, will develop a guide to promoting government sustainability plans and will also conduct three simulations – in Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica. , which will shape the diversity of conditions in the coffee-growing countries in the region.
The coffee sector is best positioned to share the advances we are making in small rural communities every day. Through its trade veins with global reach, we can set trends and become a benchmark for global challenges such as sustainability, climate change adaptation or the empowerment of agricultural communities.
Latin America and the Caribbean are poised to write a new page in coffee’s historic journey around the world. A green and innovative site that translates sustainable and inclusive growth and more opportunities for the protagonists of the coffee production chain.
Sergio Díaz-Granados He is Executive President of CAF Development Bank of Latin America.