People around the world may be drinking more coffee, but producing the aromatic coffee beans is getting harder for the millions of people who grow them for a living. The overwhelming majority (70%) are smallholder farmers in poor and remote tropical regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coffee is a sensitive plant that requires very precise weather conditions in order to thrive. With climate changing temperature and rainfall patterns, and bringing pests and disease, the areas suitable for coffee production are shrinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As production becomes harder, coffee growers\u2019 earnings are declining and many of these farmers are no longer able or willing to continue producing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe continued success of our coffee operations relies on a coffee supply that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable,\u201d says Markus Reis, Head of LDC\u2019s Coffee Platform. \u201cIf farmers are unwilling or unable to continue farming, they switch to other commodities or abandon farming altogether in search of a better life in the cities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In its first ever Coffee Sustainability Report, LDC explains how the company puts farmers at the heart of its work toward a sustainable coffee value chain. Our approach has evolved to go beyond certification schemes, offering more direct support to smallholder producers, while focusing on responsible sourcing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe report outlines the ways in which we are making our coffee supply chains more sustainable, working with a range of private and non-profit sector partners, from businesses to NGOs,\u201d says Rozenn Kerviel, Coffee Sustainability Manager at LDC.
\u201cWe strongly believe that collaboration is central to solving common challenges. In that spirit, we hope this publication will encourage dialogue and pave the way toward new partnerships,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report showcases projects that LDC runs in partnership with private sector companies, NGOs and other institutions, focusing on training and providing tools and agricultural inputs. These initiatives involve farmers in our key coffee origination countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, and more recently Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSustainable coffee production is an extremely important goal that is extraordinarily hard to achieve,\u201d said Daniel Martz, Head of Corporate Affairs at JDE Coffee, who partners with LDC on various projects around the world. \u201cThe best way to improve coffee sustainability is to create partnerships.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2016\/17, the world drank its way through nearly 9.5 billion kilos of coffee, up 2% from the previous year. More sustainable coffee production will ensure that LDC \u2013 one of the world\u2019s top five green coffee merchants \u2013 can continue to supply the world\u2019s increasingly coffee-thirsty markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the decades to come, business will play a vital role in moving the world toward more sustainable practices, while contributing to social and economic progress,\u201d said Guy Hogge, Global Head of Sustainability at LDC. \u201cLDC wants to be part of the solution by leveraging its unique position in the value chain to foster positive change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n