Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/658240
24 STiR tea & coffee industry international / Issue 2, 2016 (April/May) other subjects farmers can better understand how the costs of pre-selling compare to the costs of loans. Also highlighted in the conclusions is training on the benefits of savings and a long-term outlook on investment. To read the report: www.giz.de UK World of Coffee Dublin The Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) announces the first Sustainability Forum at this year's World of Coffee Dublin, June 23-25. The forum will serve as a hub for discussion with talks on the economic, environmental and social challenges that the industry faces with regard to sustainability. "The creation of a Sustainability Policy is just the beginning of an exciting road ahead for us working towards new initiatives, each designed to facilitate the transfer of knowledge, research and innovation for the general benefit of everyone working in the industry," according to Alberto Polojac, chair of the International Development Committee. "We are very excited to be leading this initiative and making this idea a reality and the hope is that we all will be inspired to implement change within our own organization," he said. SCAE will present its first Sustainability Awards. Learn more: wwwscae.com US Scooter's Reshapes Leadership Team Scooter's Coffee, a company headquartered in Omaha, Neb., announced changes to its executive team in February. "We've spent the past couple of years establishing a solid foundation to support strategic and targeted rapid growth," said Don Eckles, co-founder and chairman of Scooter's Coffee. Todd Graeve, previously the company's c.f.o, will assume the role of c.e.o. In addition to financial expertise, he brings to his new position a unique understand- ing of the coffee industry, business development and the complexities of franchising. "It has been exciting to watch this company grow from a small Midwest-based coffee chain to an emerging national franchising brand," stated Graeve. Rob Streett, who joined Scooter's Coffee as senior v.p. last year, has been promoted to president and c.o.o. The company has also brought in Chad Hartnett as c.f.o. Hartnett spent 17 years at HDR, Inc. prior to joining Scooter's, and he brings a wide range of comprehensive financial expertise and leadership to the Scooter's brand. Learn more: www.scooterscoffee.com/News Stronger US Tariff Act In February, the US Senate passed "The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015." The law has been lauded by many for closing a loophole which would allow importation of goods produced using forced labor. Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930, the loophole, would permit slave-produced goods to enter the country if US manufac- turers were unable to meet consumer demand of a product. The Bureau of International Labor Affairs an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor maintains a list of goods suspected to be in violation of international standards on child or forced labor. Coffee is on that list as are 14 coffee-producing countries. Closing what has been called the "consumptive demand loophole" opens the possibility that goods produced through forced labor could be excluded from the US market. However, questions remain about those authorized to enforce it will. FDA Acrylamide Guidence Released In March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued final guidance to the food industry about reducing levels of acrylamide in certain foods. The guidelines for food growers, processers, manufacturers, and sellers are non-binding. There is not much new in FDA guidance about reducing acrylamide in coffee. In fact, FDA's "Guidance for Industry Acrylamide in Foods" cites FoodDrinkEurope's Acrylamide Toolbox as a main source for this statement: "In more recent laboratory and pilot trials, treatment of green coffee beans with asparaginase resulted in lower acrylamide levels (5-45%) after roasting compared with untreated roasted beans, but coffee taste was significantly and negatively affected." The release announcing availability of the guidance statement advises consumers to limit acrylamide intake according to the agency's dietary guidelines for americans. For the coffee sector, awareness of acrylamide levels in their products seems the only clear recommendation given the acknowledgment that available mitigation techniques negatively affect flavor in coffee. Learn more: www.fda.gov/FoodGuidances