LocationsThis is the question that 80 representatives of diverse groups working across Peru's internationally renowned industry collectively answered during a plenary session of the Government-led and GCP-facilited National Coffee Platform last month. They developed a vision for sustainable coffee production by 2030, which places farming communities' wellbeing at the centre.
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and the National Coffee Council, government institutions, private sector, producers, cooperation associations and the civil society worked together to articulate a common vision and key objectives for a National Action Plan.
Stakeholders agreed a vision that will see Peru become a producer, exporter and consumer of sustainable quality coffee that primarily benefits growing communities by 2030. Six objectives to achieve this vision were also identified. These included: adopting new technology, promoting better plant health, positioning Peruvian coffee as a quality national brand, providing ways such as financial services to develop the industry, promoting social and economic development in coffee producing areas, and improving sector governance.
While Peruvian coffee is globally famous, poverty is widespread among the 223,000 small farming families who grow and pack most of the country’s sought-after coffee beans. The industry’s competitive growth is also lagging and it is increasingly driving deforestation across the globally significant Amazon basin.
Regional workshops are now planned to share the vision and objectives, with a full and agreed Plan expected to be in place by early 2018.
During the event, the Manager of the National Coffee Board, Lorenzo Castillo said: " We have gathered here to build the sustainable development of the coffee industry adapted to climate change, focused on competitiveness and profitability and being the producer the core element."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation representative, Anner Roman, said: "Our aim is to contribute to the development of the Peruvian Coffee industry and, for the purpose, we need to have all actors working together," he said.
The manager of ECOM Agroindustrial company, Jose Luis Ibarrola, said: “Until we achieve consistent quality coffee the large industry will continue seeing Peru as a backup country.”
