Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/658240
22 STiR tea & coffee industry international / Issue 2, 2016 (April/May) One Percent for Women Coffee Report: Jenny Neill Drought Worries Some categories of coffee appear to have improved due to this year's unusual weather with production in some areas projected to be stronger than in previous years. However, El Niño continues to confound coffee markets. In Ethiopia, existing aid aimed at stabilizing food security is under pressure. Some reports suggest failure to address the issue could lead to famine and migration on a scale similar to that which inspired Live Aid. Harvests there are likely fall short of demand and regional instability is perhaps mere months away. Erratic or dry weather in other producing zones, including areas of Brazil and Colombia in addition to the drought in Ethiopia, ensure commodity markets will continue to be volatile. Whether production will recover as strongly as some predict in Brazil remains to be seen. Such concerns combined with a general weakening of commodities in February may be setting the market for arabica up for a signifi- cant increase in price in the coming year. Barkowski. "People's support helps women in coffee, communities in Africa, and they get a great cup of coffee." Funds from this campaign go to support a pilot project to provide holistic land and livestock management training through a train-the-trainers program. Laurie Benson, founder of 1% For Women, said: "Our training program is based on that of the Africa Centre for Holistic Management. Through the work of Allan Savory, the Africa Centre is bringing grasslands back to life and raising the water table through land management that specifically uses the cattle within communities to mimic the herds that used to cover these regions." Colombia Business Roundtable In its second edition, the business roundtables set a new record in direct sales at ExpoEspeciales Café de Colombia, Bogotá. Organized by the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) and Procolombia, business transactions topped $7.2 million. "We are very pleased to see the dynamism that existed during these roundtables. As a result, this second version greatly exceeded our expecta- tions, which further translates into more long-term relationships and greater security both for buyers and coffee growers," said Roberto Vélez, Colom- bian Coffee Growers Federation's general manager. Growers connected with buyers in Australia, Azerbaiyan, Canada, China, South Korea, US, Finland, Netherlands, and UK., Specialty coffee from Antio- quia, Caldas, Cundinamarca, Huila, Magdalena, Nariño, Quindío, Risaralda, Santander, Tolima and Valle del Cauca were introduced to exporters. "During this second roundtable, 86 Colombian specialty coffee exporters introduced their offer to buyers from nine countries. On this occasion, 90% of the foreign buyers brought by ProCo- lombia came for the first time to do businesses with producers from 12 departments," added ProColombia's president, María Claudia Lacouture. The event attracted 13,000 visitors and 120 exhibitors with 111 competitors in the V National Cup tasters Champi- onship. Included were many women interested in gender equity as a key factor for sustainability in the IV Convention of the International Women's Coffee Alliance (IWCA). Italy Illy Among Most Ethical illycaffè SpA was recognized by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as a 2016 World's Most Ethical Company. Companies are selected for "… promoting ethical business standards and practices internally, enabling managers and employees to make good choices, and shaping future industry standards by introducing tomorrow's best practices today." "To be named by Ethisphere as a World's Most Ethical Company for a fourth consecutive year is an honor, and validation of illy's longstanding commit- ment to all stakeholders within our value chain, from farmer to customer," said Andrea Illy, chairman and c.e.o. of illycaffè SpA. "Striving for the highest ethical standards is central to our values and operating model, and has set in motion a virtuous cycle that is essential to realizing our dream to offer the best coffee in the world." Illy is one of only four in the Food, Beverage, and Agriculture category for 2016. UGANDA High Cash Costs in Pre-Sold Coffee The 2015 Agricultural Finance Year Book, published by the Bank of Uganda, the Economic Policy Research Centre, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, is the eighth edition. This volume analyzes the impact of fiscal policy on the agricultural sector, reports the results of research on recent innovations in provision of rural finance and support for smallholder farmers, and examines how farmers can mitigate risks. The section in which the practice of pre-selling coffee by Ugandan growers is analyzed concluded that: "Farmers bear immense costs due to the practice of preselling coffee to middlemen." Recommendations on how to reduce the costs described include better and faster access to finances to address needs for cash, and "urgent need of… training in the area of financial literacy" so among For Women, Across Africa One Percent For Women and the Buena Vista Roastery have started an IndieGoGo campaign to raise money for communities across Africa, starting in Zimbabwe. More than $2,300 was donated. Contributors who donate $25 receive organic Guatemala coffee from Buena Vista Roastery as part of their perk. Those who contribute at the $100 level receive Women Care Certified Costa Rican Coffee. "It's a win, win, win situation," noted head-roaster, Ed