Brazilian CECAFÉ represents national coffee farming at event in Geneva

Brazilian Council of Coffee Exporters  (CECAFÉ) represented national coffee farming at the 13^th SCTA Coffee Forum & Dinner, held in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 13^th – 14^th. The event was promoted by the Swiss Coffee Trade Association, with the theme “World of Opportunity: resilience and reinvention.”

According to Marcos Matos, General Board of the Council, the event addressed such important subjects: the challenges of impacts from the pandemic; effects of the conflict in Ukraine over production chain; changes related to production, distribution and consumption; regulatory responses, and the advance of consumers’ interest for more sustainable and traceable coffees.

Matos says: “Brazil is well situated before the current challenges. We are the world’s greatest producer and exporter, and second major consumer market of coffee. Also, our domestic coffee sector carries out several sustainable actions.”

“When it comes to ESG, we may quote the strengthening of solid actions from CECAFÉ such as capacitation of farmers, monitoring of residues, risk management, carbon balance and traceability for regulatory trends, specially from European Union”, completes CECAFÉ’s General Board.

Socially responsible coffee farming 

Matos has also mentioned the social relevance of coffee farming in Brazil. “Coffee promotes social inclusion. The Human Development Index (HDI) is higher in the regions where coffee farming is present. In addition, environmental preservation is higher than required by the legislation (Brazilian Forest Code). In the current moment of challenging geopolitics, we understand that fostering multilateral relations will promote social inclusive international market. With respect to investments, projects and so many ongoing concrete actions for sustainability in Brazil,” he adds.

 As well as CECAFÉ’s General Board, global roasters have contributed in the event with their perspectives on the challenges of carbon sequestration and social-corporate responsibility. In this direction, he states that the information exposed by the Council meet the demands. Allowing those players to show that their social and private investments bring benefits to coffee producing regions. Once they generate progress, in compliance to the reach of their goals.

 “About green market, our carbon additionality index is the best way to represent a regenerative agriculture. Brazilian coffee farming is already carbon negative. It retains 1.6 Ton of CO₂ eq/Ha by conventional means. And it might be even better by the investments from such companies. Which can lead to more decarbonizing initiatives. In this regard, CECAFÉ’s study has proven that good agricultural practices elevate levels of carbon retention in the soil and equivalents to 10.5 Tons/Ha per year. Therefore, Brazil is ready and prepared to receive investments, and, consequently, to help international companies to meet their goals,” he explains.

CECAFÉ in action

The participation of CECAFÉ at SCTA Coffee Forum & Dinner is amidst its actions to promote Brazilian coffees worldwide. Marcos Matos said that the event has been a major opportunity to show the world that Brazilian coffee farming is in line with the most important organizations of the sector.

“It’s been a good chance to highlight our commitment to environmental and social challenges, which we see as outstanding opportunities to place us even more at the frontline of international coffee market,” he concludes.