Driving coffee quality, sustainability and farmers’ quality of life
Nespresso reaffirmed on May 22 its on-going commitment to Colombia and Colombian coffee growers. Its new five-year agreement with the Colombian Coffee Growers’ Federation (FNC) covers its investment of USD 10 million per year to strengthen its unique AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program in Colombia.
The Nespresso financial commitment will provide direct incentive premiums to farmers to adopt Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ practices, as well as technical assistance and training to improve quality, sustainability and productivity.
The program, which counts 37,000 coffee farmers in Colombia, aims to secure the supply of highest quality coffee for Nespresso consumers and to protect the natural environment, while improving farmers’ livelihoods.
Making a difference together
“We are extremely proud of our cooperation with Nespresso“, explained Luis G. Muñoz, CEO of the FNC. “This new investment only confirms our joint commitment to Colombian coffee growers, to sustainability and quality and to Nespresso consumers all over the world. It is clear that when roasters take the time to understand how to effectively collaborate with farmers, results are much more effective. This collaboration has made a significant difference for coffee growers, consumers and perhaps the industry as a whole.”
During the past eight years, the Nespresso AAA Program has delivered technical expertise, infrastructure investments and better prices to Colombian coffee farmers involved in the program, improving the lives of nearly 130,000 people in coffee growing communities in the five regional districts of Cauca, Nariño, Caldas, Antioquia and Huila.
In 2011, Nespresso sourced about 25% of its total green coffee from Colombia. In six years, it has tripled the volume of coffee sourced through the AAA Program in the country. Colombian coffee farmers represent 80% of all the farmers who are part of the Nespresso AAA Program.
Securing highest quality coffee
“For us, quality and sustainability go hand in hand,“ said Guillaume Le Cunff, Director of Marketing and Sustainability at Nestlé Nespresso SA, while explaining the importance that Nespresso places on quality and sustainability throughout the coffee chain. “The investment that we are making confirms the key role that Colombia and its farmers play in securing coffees of exceptional quality and how programs can be effectively implemented with a leading organisation such as the FNC. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners in Colombia to create shared value, for both Nespresso consumers – by delivering the highest quality, sustainable coffee – and for coffee farmers, by helping to improve their livelihoods.”
The agreement between Nespresso and the FNC envisions an overall public-private investment of approximately USD17 million per year for projects to secure productivity, quality and sustainability in coffee growing regions in Colombia. It builds on the successful cooperation of the parties that began in 2004. And seeks to further promote the significant growth of the Nespresso AAA Program in Colombia.
“The proof of the strength of our AAA Program is that each year hundreds, even thousands of new farmers are joining this initiative across all of Colombia, “ concluded Mr LeCunff.
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Creating Shared Value through the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program
Colombian Coffee Growers Federation and Nestlé Nespresso SA reaffirm their commitment to sustainable quality coffee
