Food industries are the biggest purchasers of agricultural raw materials. In order to rely on a constant, increasing and safe supply of agricultural raw materials, these must be grown in a sustainable manner. In 2002 Nestlé, Unilever and Danone created the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain. The SAI Platform today counts over 30 members, which actively share the same view on sustainable agriculture seen as a 'productive, competitive and efficient way to produce agricultural products, while at the same time protecting and improving the natural environment and social/economic conditions of local communities'. Among the latest services and deliverables produced, the SAI Platform published Principles and practices for the sustainable production of arable and vegetable crops, Principles and Practices for the sustainable production of Coffee, Fruit and Dairy; a Benchmark Study of Agriculture Standards and a Short Guide to Sustainable Agriculture.
16/08/2012
COOCAFE is the only certified Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative in Costa Rica. They represent more than 3,500 small coffee producers, in 9 independent Cooperatives throughout the country. Their mission is to promote social and economic development and environmentally sustainable coffee production that meets the quality demands of their customers and serves the needs of their cooperatives and their members.
3/04/2006
EAFCA, registered in Uganda in 2000, is an association of coffee producers, processors, marketing people and organisations in the ten Eastern and Southern African countries of Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as others from outside Africa. Membership thus includes processors, associations, roasters, dealers, retailers, and coffee professionals from all over the world. The vision of EAFCA is "improving the quality of life through the quality of coffee" . Its mission is to establish and promote partnerships and networks amongst those participating and having an interest in quality coffee production, processing and marketing in the Eastern Africa coffee-growing region. EAFCA’s website presents an overview of events, conferences, country chapters, an explanation of the association and it provides access to a resource centre for which one needs to log in as a member. The EAFCA board finalized its Strategic plan during its meeting on 28-29th August 2002, and focused on eight strategic objectives, given below: Improving the financial stability and productivity of the Association;Promoting the welfare of the smallholder producers and quality improvement;Developing an educational and training programme for all players in the African specialty coffee industry; Working with and directly supporting the establishment and implementation of modern coffee auctions and specialised regional marketing infrastructure; Working within the established structures for regional cooperation and enhancement of the unified and unique character of the African specialty coffee industry; Working in liaison with other organisations and institutions on matters relating to the promotion of the African fine coffee industry and to facilitate joint activities in our coffee sub-regions; Establishment of an African-based certification body, and work with others to develop a globally acceptable certification program for African coffee producers particularly conscious of the needs of smallholder producers in Africa; and, Promoting domestic consumption of coffee in the region and developing the regional markets for such coffee (from the executive summary). Release date: September 2002 Source: Eastern African Fine Coffees Association (EAFCA)
3/04/2006
CQI works on improving the quality of coffee and the lives of the people who produce it through innovative approaches to economic sustainability. CQI has helped to improve the lives of thousands of coffee farmers and over 88% of its income goes directly into these programs. The institute is able to do a lot with a little because of the expertise and diversity of its board and staff who have over 400 years of combined experience in the coffee industry. CQI is working collaboratively to create a common language for coffee quality and in doing so has helped thousands of farmers raise the quality of their coffee and better compete in the world marketplace, allowing them to make investments in their businesses as well as in their communities. Its work is also helping to create a more reliable source of quality coffee for the industry. Coffee is the number one most widely traded agricultural commodity in the world and CQI’s only agenda is to ensure that everyone along the value chain benefits.
3/04/2006