Coffee

Coffee is one of the world's most widely traded commodity. However, it regularly suffers from periods of over supply and low prices followed by periods of short supply and high prices. This cyclical prices movement when it is low has dramatic consequences on developing countries where less money is available for health care, communication and education. In particular, farmers survive with difficulties in coffee plantations or abandon them, adding up to the overall number of unemployed people.

SAI Platform believes that resolving the structural deficiencies in the sector requires an active and coordinated action from the international community. For its part, it acts as a catalyser for food industries to help resolve the crisis by developing sustainable green coffee practices. SAI Platform is persuaded that the development of such practices for the mainstream coffee market would have several positive effects in the medium term: reducing the current oversupply of green coffee; contributing to protecting the environment; helping improve the livelihoods of sustainable coffee farmers; and contributing to improve the quality of green coffee.

SAI Platform's Working Group on Green Coffee was formed on April 1st, 2003. Shortly after its creation, it released a Mission Statement on Sustainable Green Coffee in English; Engagement pour un café durable en Français; and Definición de misión por un café verde sostenible en Español. A Common Understanding of Mainstream Sustainable Coffee was also produced with the Common Code for the Coffee Community (4Cs). In December 2007, the Working Group published Principles and Practices for Sustainable Green Coffee Production. It also compiled a "toolbox" of practical tools aimed at guiding farmers, extensionists and all interested parties in the implementation of best practices at farm level. These documents all draw from practical experience gathered through twelve pilot projects conducted in Africa, Asia and Latin America under the responsibility of the Working Group's member companies.

Today, the Working Group is focussing on the issue of carbon footprint associated with green coffee production.

Illycafe, Kraft, Nestlé, Sara Lee DE and Tchibo are SAI Platform's active members of the Working Group on Coffee. Stefanie Miltenburg, SaraLee, is the Working Group's Chairwoman.