Tag: AFCC&E

AFCA 2026 Officially Opens in Addis Ababa

Posted on by Qahwa World

Brewing Africa’s Next Generation

Addis Ababa – Qahwa World x Buna Kurs

The 22nd African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition (AFCC&E) officially opened today at the Addis International Convention Center (AICC), marking a major milestone for Africa’s coffee sector. Following yesterday’s pre-conference Sustainability Day workshops, the event welcomed over 2,000 delegates from more than 25 countries, including government officials, private sector leaders, international buyers, and coffee experts.

A Vision for the Future This year’s theme, “Brewing Africa’s Next Generation,” underscores a commitment to modernizing the value chain, integrating youth into the sector, and building climate resilience. AFCA Chairperson Amir Hamza described the event as a “homecoming for coffee,” adding: “Africa will no longer just supply fine coffees to the world—we will define the future of coffee.”

Breaking Trade Barriers A highlight of the opening was the high-level panel discussion, “Why Do Roasters Find It Harder to Buy Directly from Africa?” presented by Algrano. Strategic partner Algrano brought a delegation of over 20 international buyers from the US and Europe to engage directly with African producers. Panelists focused on solutions to logistics bottlenecks, financing gaps, and late contracting that often hinder smallholder farmers from accessing global markets.

Exhibition Floor Highlights The trade floor is now fully buzzing with booths showcasing innovations in coffee technology, logistics, and premium green coffee. Cupping sessions are underway, featuring the winners from AFCA’s flagship competition, the Taste of Harvest, in addition to fresh Ethiopian harvests.

Delegates also explored value-addition technologies aimed at moving beyond raw bean exports to roasting and branding at origin. Policy initiatives introduced today include a gender-responsive framework designed to increase women’s participation in agricultural extension and decision-making, developed in partnership with the Ethiopian government and GIZ.

Economic and Sectoral Momentum The conference is already shaping critical discussions on coffee strategy, and analysts note that initiatives highlighted at AFCA are being seen as a platform to position Africa as a proactive player in global coffee pricing and innovation. The conference continues tomorrow and will feature the finals of the Africa Barista Championship and the Regional Taste of Harvest Competition, in addition to AFCA’s Burundi Taste of Harvest Auction.

Sustainability Day Sets the Technical and Policy Tone at AFCC&E

Posted on by Qahwa World

Addis Ababa – Qahwa World × Buna Kurs

Day One of the 22nd African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition (AFCC&E) concluded in Addis Ababa with sustainability firmly positioned as the cornerstone of this year’s continental coffee dialogue. Following the morning’s high-level opening ceremony, the conference program transitioned into the 7th AFCA Sustainability Day, delivered in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance under the theme “Sustainability in Every Cup: Brewing a Regenerative Future, Today.”

At the center of the day’s agenda was the presentation and launch of the Rainforest Alliance Regenerative Agriculture Standard (RAS), a new certification framework designed to move beyond compliance toward ecosystem restoration and long-term farmer resilience across tropical landscapes.

Across the venue, the exhibition hall remained active throughout the day, with strong foot traffic from producers, exporters, buyers, service providers, and development partners. Exhibitors noted a visibly expanded floor layout and higher engagement compared to previous editions, reflecting both the growing scale of the event and renewed market interest in African coffee origins.

The Sustainability Day program highlighted how regenerative agriculture is being applied in practice across East Africa, with experiences shared from Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, including MSuLLi, Mountain Harvest, Moplaco Farm, and sector partners working at farm, landscape, and market levels. A dedicated youth testimony segment reinforced a growing generational consensus: sustainability is no longer an add-on, but a prerequisite for remaining competitive in the global coffee sector.

Afternoon sessions shifted the discussion to the value of sustainability standards within the global supply chain, examining how certification, traceability, and transparency are increasingly shaping trade relationships. Panels featuring exporters, producers, and international buyers addressed the commercial realities of sustainability, with participation from Midrock Investments Group, Touton, ECOM, AMG Coffee Export, Preferred by Nature, and regional producer representatives.

Beyond the conference hall, B2B cupping sessions continued alongside networking activities, offering international buyers early exposure to coffees from across Africa while reinforcing the link between quality, sustainability, and market access.

Day One concluded with an invitation-only policy and networking reception, followed by the Opening Cocktail at the AICC Amphitheater, marking the informal start of a week expected to shape Africa’s coffee sustainability agenda for years to come.