Benguet coffee stakeholders hold summit to highlight sustainability of industry
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A total of 280 individuals from all walks of Benguet’s coffee farming trade and neighboring coffee farming communities attended recently the Kape Kabuhayan Kinabukasan Summit 2018, a conference held by The Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence (FSCE) and Henry & Sons in partnership with the local government of La Trinidad.
FSCE Director Emil Cuaresma shared that the foundation, as well as the platforms and programs under it, serve as avenues for establishing shared prosperity amongst the local coffee growers of Benguet.
Held at the Lednicky Hall of the La Trinidad Municipal Building, the summit began with words of welcome by Ms. Felicitas Ticbaen, Municipal Agriculturist of La Trinidad, Benguet, and featured a segment on Sustainable Coffee Farming by Prof. Valentino Macanes, Associate Professor, Arabica coffee Scientist, and Consultant and Resource Person of the Department of Agroforestry of Benguet State University’s College of Agriculture.
He stressed the importance of a multi-sectoral approach where every stakeholder within the coffee value chain must do their part in maintaining the quality production of Arabica coffee. From coffee growers practicing what they learn, to state universities continuing their research, and to government and private agencies giving their full support.
With a live demo on how his signature beverage is made, one that’s inspired by his recent trip to the Gesha Village in Ethiopia, uses ingredients sourced from the coffee tree, and served as his competing drink in this year’s PNBC, the Coffee Explorer, Innovator, and Social Entrepreneur gave KKK Summit attendees an idea on how they can make ends meet while waiting for harvest season.
FSCE Director Emil Cuaresma also gave audiences a peek at the foundation’s 2018 calendar filled with programs lined up each month to help reach the goal of a more sustainable coffee farming landscape.
Under it are the programs that stand for the coffee under the Bloom Coffee range, all crafted with the intent of having proceeds sent to initiatives that make coffee farmers’ lives easier. This includes The Giving Well (clean and potable water), Cup to Seed (livelihood programs in-between harvests and post-harvest facilities), Coffee for Great Minds (educational assistance for the farmer’s children), Beans for the Little Ones (vaccines for improving their children’s health and mosquito nets), and Beans within Reach (connectivity and traceability).