Bean to cup experience

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages and therefore one of the most traded commodities in the world. It represents a growing market with increasing consumption in emerging economies and a stronger interest in specialty coffee and product innovations in developed countries.  

According to FAO’s Markets and Trade, despite the expansion of the sector, market imbalances and asymmetric income distribution among market players can threaten the livelihood of millions of smallholder producers. In addition, this key agricultural crop faces growing issues due to climate change, which leads to increased socio-economic challenges.  This is a major threat as the whole coffee value chain is a significant source of employment for both consumer and producing countries.   

Agroforestry coffee production systems provide positive effects for both the producers and the environment, improving biodiversity and resilience to climate change. They represent an important solution for mitigating the effects of increased temperatures and irregular rainfall.  Though agroforestry is not easily adoptable everywhere, in many cases it does provide solutions that have a direct impact on quality and profitability. New coffee varieties suited to shade are performing better, which can represent a positive impact for both the environment and the economy. 

Beyond production methods, consumption habits also make a difference, and specialty coffee aligns with the sustainability and transparency of the full value chain.  

Young people worldwide play a key role in the coffee value chain, from consumers to producers—the future of coffee will depend on their work, innovation, advocacy, lifestyle, and consumption patterns.  However, youth-related and coffee-specific issues are increasing (such as a growing intergenerational gap and aging coffee farmers, inequitable access to land, resources and financing, migration from rural areas, and youth unemployment in both producing and consumer countries).  

And yet, the coffee sector is expanding, presenting new opportunities for overcoming job insecurity and income gaps worldwide, offering many careers and activities. Youth are also engaged as consumers, researchers and advocates for policies related to climate change, food justice and conscious consumerism, which indirectly impact the production and distribution of coffee. The International Coffee Organization (ICO) states that building a sustainable and resilient coffee sector is an intergenerational mandate that demands cross-generational collaboration.