Partnership between the Specialty Coffee Association and the Slow Food Coffee Coalition Opens Pathway to Future Collaboration

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and the Slow Food Coffee Coalition (SFCC) are proud to announce their partnership, shaping a new pathway towards impactful change within the global coffee industry. This collaboration, initiated at the beginning of 2024, was formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding during Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, the Slow Food flagship event, which concludes today in Turin, Italy.

“Together, we can better identify and tackle the challenges coffee producers face every day, while also raising consumer awareness on choosing good, clean, and fair coffee,” said Emanuele Dughera, Slow Food Coffee Coalition Coordinator.

“The SCA is committed to advocating for all actors within the coffee community by providing them with the resources, education, and support needed to thrive in an increasingly complex market,” adds Yannis Apostolopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of the SCA. “Our collaboration with the Slow Food Coffee Coalition will play a crucial role in continuing the work towards a more sustainable and equitable future, ensuring that ethical practices and social responsibility are at the forefront of every step.”

The global coffee sector provides employment and income to an estimated 12.5 million coffee farms, two-thirds of which are smallholders. Coffee production is a vital source of rural economic activity, but susceptible to hazards.

“The SFCC’s main principles include preservation of biodiversity, safeguarding of human and labor rights, food security through the application of agroecological principles, and education,” comments Emanuele Dughera. “In order to achieve these goals, it is essential to build and strengthen new partnerships with distinguished partners such as the Specialty Coffee Association. For the SFCC and its partners, education and capacity development must remain at the forefront of each project. Empowering farmers with the tools, knowledge and skills to implement agroforestry practices everywhere in an effective manner is paramount. Training programmes, workshops and knowledge sharing platforms must be expanded and made accessible to all, ensuring that they reach communities and practitioners.”