The first World Coffee producers Forum developed a road map to address common challenges

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Medellin, Colombia, July 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)-the first World Coffee producers Forum, which brings together representatives of the entire coffee value chain, ended on Wednesday with a final statement outlining a plan of action to address common challenges and other specific measures.

The action plan will be jointly developed by stakeholders in the global value chain with the support of the International Coffee Organization (International Coffee Organization, referred to as ICO), which must set specific goals, deadlines and funds needed to achieve them.

The action plan must be based on the problems faced by the coffee industry in different parts of the world, that is, producers face low prices and excessive market volatility (more profits are shared by other parts of the value chain), adaptation to climate change, lack of manpower, reduced generation turnover, and unstable social conditions for producers.

The action plan will take into account the recommendations of the Forum and will also be based on a forthcoming study by an independent agency that will analyze changes in coffee prices over the past 40 years, production costs over the same period, and the correlation between the two.

The study will analyze whether international coffee prices on the New York and London stock exchanges reflect the reality of the spot market and propose alternative solutions to the issues discussed in the forum.

The final statement decided that joint commitment to the plan of action and its funding must be achieved at the highest level with representatives of industry, donors, international cooperation agencies, multilateral organizations and national and local governments.

In order to develop a plan of action, a committee will be set up, consisting of two representatives from producers' associations of African countries; two from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean; two from South American countries; and two from Asian countries, while North America, Europe and Asia each have at least one regional industry representative.

The Committee will submit a progress report at the next meeting of ICO's International Coffee Council (International Coffee Council) in March 2018.

The next World Coffee producers Forum will be held in 2019 and the specific venue will be coordinated by the Committee; in addition to the resolutions, Brazil proposes to host the next forum.

"We have just started a new process in the world coffee industry," said Roberto Velez, chief executive of the Colombian Coffee Growers' Federation (Colombian Coffee Growers Federation, referred to as FNC, the host organization). We think carefully, gather ideas, and listen to each other today, but this is only the beginning of the new phase we hope for. "

Velez even pointed out that new ways of understanding, collaboration and shared responsibility between producers and consumers, as well as this new North-South relationship between developed and developing countries, may have the possibility of setting a new historical direction for the global economy.

The assumptions for reaching these decisions include the poor profitability or even losses of coffee farmers as they face low international prices, low productivity and rising production costs caused by climate change and change. and rising labour costs, including pickers.

Low profitability causes a large proportion of coffee producers to live in poverty or have a poor quality of life (housing, utilities, education, health, etc.) and leads to a decline in their ability to reinvest in farms.

Without coordinated corrective measures to address these problems and their financing difficulties, the world may face a structural reduction in coffee supply, resulting in unmet demand, which in turn creates unwanted imbalances in the coffee market, this may pose risks to the sustainable development of the global coffee value chain.

The spirit of the final statement took into account the main conclusions and recommendations of the forum, and representatives of various thematic groups actively participated in the analysis and discussion to improve the statement.

Many international celebrities spoke at the forum, such as former President Bill Clinton of the United States, University Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, ICO Executive Director Jos é Sette, Presidents of Colombia, Costa Rica and Honduras and Ministers of Agriculture, as well as representatives of the entire coffee value chain, including producers.

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