Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/853465
STiR coffee and tea 11 NEWS Seoul Cafe Show Barista champions from more than 60 nations are coming to Seoul in 2017 to compete for the title of "World Barista Champion." This will take place live, Nov. 9-12, on an arena stage built by competition host Cafe Show. For the second year, there will also be a team competition component at WBC, with competitors paired together in 10 teams as a way to reward support and collaboration between baristas. Korea is one of the world's most dynamic and exciting coffee markets, and there is already growing excitement from the industry and fans. Ediya Coffee is the title sponsor joining qualified equipment sponsors Nuova Simonelli, Mahlkönig, Cafetto, and Pentair/Everpure along with a dozen other 2017 sponsor partners. More than 140,000 people will visit the Cafe Show, joining livestream- ing viewers from 140 countries. Learn more: www.worldcoffeeevents.org Rainforest Alliance Merges with UTZ The executive director of UTZ will manage a much larger Rainforest Alliance following a merger announced in June. Han de Groot is the new c.e.o. at New York-based Rainforest Alliance, a certifier of sustainable practices for smallholders and commercial producers of coffee, tea, cocoa, and other plantation crops. "The future Rainforest Alliance will have a bigger reach and stronger voice, allowing it to better protect the natural environment and allow farmers, businesses, and consumers to make even more responsible choices, more easily," according to a release issued by de Groot. "We have a history of continuous growth and strong partner- ships – this new venture will give us more influence to bring us closer to our mission: a world where sustainable farming is the norm." The combined organization will establish a single unified standard for social and environmental sustainability. The goal is to simplify the process to reduce the cost of certification for producers while seeking to improve the livelihoods of both forest and farm communities. The Alliance will specifically address the concerns of marginal producers in developing countries to realise higher returns for their products. Alliance president Nigel Sizer was named chief program officer with responsibilities for advocacy, landscapes, and livelihoods. The merged group will partner with the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) "to expand our impact... protect biodiversity and champion companies that are on the path to sustainability," said Sizer. The two programs will run in tamdem during a trasition period ending in early 2019. Learn more: www.rainforest-alliance.org