ICO and FAO Renew Commitment to Sustainable Coffee Sector

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Qahwa World

Source: International Coffee Organization (ICO)
Author: Qahwa World Editorial Team
Date: July 22, 2026

ICO and FAO Renew Commitment to Sustainable Coffee Sector

ICO and FAO signed a new Memorandum of Understanding reaffirming their commitment to coffee sector sustainability.
The renewed partnership builds on years of successful collaboration between the two organizations.
Key areas include sustainable production, climate resilience, market transparency, and inclusive value chains.
The agreement also covers innovation, digital technologies, and knowledge exchange.
A special focus will be on empowering coffee-growing communities and smallholder farmers.
Both organizations aim to build a more inclusive and resilient coffee sector for future generations.

The International Coffee Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations have renewed their commitment to a more sustainable coffee sector. Executive Director of ICO and FAO Director-General QU Dongyu signed a new Memorandum of Understanding today.

The agreement reaffirms their shared commitment to supporting the sustainable development of the global coffee sector. It builds on years of successful collaboration between the two organizations.

Key Areas of Cooperation

The renewed partnership will strengthen cooperation in several key areas. These include sustainable coffee production and sourcing. Climate resilience and adaptation are also priorities. Market transparency and access to information will be enhanced.

Other areas include inclusive and sustainable value chains. Innovation and digital technologies will play a crucial role. Knowledge exchange between stakeholders is another focus. The agreement also emphasizes empowering coffee-growing communities. Special attention will be given to smallholder and family farmers.

**ICO-FAO Renewed Partnership – Key Cooperation Areas**
Area	Focus
Sustainable Production	Sustainable coffee production and sourcing
Climate Action	Climate resilience and adaptation
Market Transparency	Market transparency and access to information
Value Chains	Inclusive and sustainable value chains
Innovation	Innovation, digital technologies and knowledge exchange
Community Empowerment	Empowering coffee-growing communities, particularly smallholder farmers

The Importance of Coffee

Coffee supports the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. It plays a vital role in advancing sustainable development. The sector faces numerous challenges. These include climate change, market volatility, and social inequality.

Through this renewed framework, ICO and FAO will continue working together. Their goal is to ensure the coffee sector becomes more inclusive and resilient. They aim to prepare it for the challenges of the future. The partnership will benefit producers, consumers, and future generations.

About ICO and FAO

The International Coffee Organization is the only intergovernmental organization dedicated to coffee. It enhances the sustainability of the coffee sector for both exporting and importing countries. The ICO provides official statistics and facilitates technical cooperation projects.

The Food and Agriculture Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO supports sustainable agriculture and rural development. Together, ICO and FAO bring complementary expertise to the coffee sector.

“A renewed commitment to a more sustainable and resilient coffee sector.”

— International Coffee Organization

Future Outlook

The renewed partnership signals a strong commitment to coffee sustainability. Both organizations look forward to building an even stronger partnership. The focus remains on practical outcomes for coffee producers and communities. Innovation and knowledge sharing will drive progress.

Together, ICO and FAO aim to create lasting positive change. The goal is a coffee sector that is inclusive, resilient, and prepared for future challenges. Producers, consumers, and future generations will all benefit from this collaboration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did ICO and FAO announce?ICO and FAO signed a new Memorandum of Understanding renewing their commitment to a sustainable coffee sector.

What are the key areas of cooperation?Key areas include sustainable production, climate resilience, market transparency, inclusive value chains, innovation, and empowering smallholder farmers.

Why is this partnership important?The partnership combines the expertise of two major organizations to address challenges facing the global coffee sector.

How does coffee support sustainable development?Coffee supports the livelihoods of millions worldwide and plays a vital role in advancing sustainable development goals.

Who will benefit from this agreement?Coffee producers, consumers, and future generations will benefit from a more inclusive and resilient coffee sector.

What is the role of ICO?ICO is the only intergovernmental organization dedicated to coffee, providing statistics and facilitating technical cooperation.

GCP opens 30‑day public consultation on Coffee Sustainability Reference Code and Equivalence Mechanism review

Posted on May 19, 2026May 19, 2026 by Qahwa World

Author: Ali Alzakary – Dubai. This article discusses the GCP public consultation Coffee SR Code 2026 and its relevance for stakeholders.

Event: GCP webinar, 19 May 2026
Source: Global Coffee Platform (GCP) public consultation launch materials and webinar

Stakeholders across the coffee value chain invited to review proposed updates and provide feedback by 19 June 2026. Surveys available in five languages.

Dubai, 19 May 2026 — The Global Coffee Platform (GCP) today officially opened a 30‑day public consultation on the review of its Coffee Sustainability Reference Code (Coffee SR Code) and the Equivalence Mechanism (EM). The consultation, launched during a live webinar hosted by GCP Sustainable Sourcing Manager Gabriel Chavez, runs from 19 May to 19 June 2026 and invites stakeholders from across the coffee sector to help shape the next generation of these critical sustainability tools.

The Coffee SR Code was developed as a common language for baseline sustainable coffee production, centered on economic prosperity, social well‑being, and environmental stewardship. The Equivalence Mechanism recognises sustainability schemes that align with the Code, supporting comparability and mutual understanding across the sector. Both tools are being reviewed together to ensure coherence and continued relevance.

“We welcome the participation of stakeholders from across the coffee value chain and from around the world to bring their experience and expertise to this process,” said Gabriel Chavez, GCP Manager Sustainable Sourcing. “A rich diversity of voices will help ensure these tools are fit‑for‑purpose, modernised and relevant.”

Why the review matters now

The coffee sector faces increasingly complex challenges: climate change, evolving regulatory frameworks such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), rising market expectations, and the need for greater alignment across sustainability initiatives. Since the tools were first launched, 33 schemes have been recognised under the Equivalence Mechanism (four third‑party and 29 second‑party). Sustainable coffee purchases recorded under GCP’s framework have grown from about 639,000 tonnes in 2018 to 1.73 million tonnes in 2024, according to data shared during the webinar.

“If we look at where we are now, there are no fewer than 33 schemes which are currently recognised under the equivalence mechanism,” said Jeremy Laforet, Chair of the GCP Technical Committee. “The purchases of sustainable coffee recorded have risen from about 639,000 tons in 2018 up to 1.73 million tons in 2024, which is a tremendous sign of the seriousness with which our industry takes coffee sustainability.”

The review follows GCP’s regular five‑year cycle, aligned with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice. The combined review of the Coffee SR Code and EM was mandated by the GCP Board to improve alignment across the sustainable sourcing approach and reduce stakeholder fatigue by avoiding separate parallel processes.

“Now it’s over to you, it’s over to the wider membership as a whole to ensure that these two tools – the SR Code and the equivalence mechanism – remain practical, relevant and credible.” – Jeremy Laforet, Chair, GCP Technical Committee

Key proposed updates

The review process has been informed by a comprehensive assessment phase that included 55 survey responses, 8 stakeholder interviews, two workshops with the International Trade Centre, and detailed analysis of 33 recognised schemes. The proposed updates focus on refinement rather than redesign.

For the Coffee SR Code, proposed highlights include a stronger emphasis on continuous improvement, maintaining a risk‑based and context‑driven approach, and reinforcing alignment with due diligence logic (risk assessment → action → monitoring). The Code remains positioned as a shared baseline for sustainable coffee, not a prescriptive certification standard.

For the Equivalence Mechanism, updates are more pronounced. They include improved clarity and structure, strengthened governance, transparency, and data integrity, clearer expectations on disclosure and accountability, and a reinforced risk‑ and due diligence‑based methodology that moves beyond “tick‑box” compliance.

“The overall approach of this review has been focused on refinement rather than redesign,” Chavez explained. “We are not aiming to fundamentally change the intent or the scope, but rather to strengthen and improve based on implementation experience, stakeholder feedback, and evolving sector expectations.”

How to participate

GCP has prepared a consultation toolkit available on its website. Stakeholders can access a summary of proposed changes (available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia, and Vietnamese), a full consultation draft of the Coffee SR Code (English only), and two online surveys.

The main survey consists of 25 required questions covering high‑level feedback and key substantive changes. It is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia, and Vietnamese. A separate technical survey (English only) allows stakeholders to provide detailed, requirement‑specific input on individual requirements. Both surveys will remain open until 19 June 2026.

All responses are confidential and will be anonymised. A summary of consultation results will be published on the GCP website in the second half of July 2026.

Next steps

Following the public consultation, GCP will consolidate and analyse all stakeholder feedback, identify key themes, and develop revised drafts. These will go through further technical discussion and validation with the Technical Committee, the Advisory Task Force, and the GCP Board. The final updated tools are expected to be published by the end of 2026, together with clear implementation and transition pathways for scheme owners and users across the sector.

Coffee Sector Adopts Procurement Principles to Strengthen Farmer Livelihoods

Posted on March 31, 2026 by Qahwa World

BONN – Qahwa World

Leading players in the global coffee sector have announced two new procurement principles aimed at supporting the long-term economic sustainability of coffee farmers. The principles, developed over nine months by the Global Coffee Platform (GCP), IDH, and Solidaridad, focus on building strategic partnerships and promoting sustainable coffee production, marking a coordinated effort to encourage more responsible sourcing practices across the industry.

The initiative involved 14 major coffee companies, including Caravela, ECOM, illycaffè, JDE Peet’s, Louis Dreyfus Company, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, Taylors of Harrogate, UCC, and Volcafe. The principles build on insights from the 2024 report The Grounds for Sharing, which examined the challenges and opportunities for farmer resilience in global coffee supply chains.

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Shifting Toward Long-Term Collaboration

The first principle, strategic partnerships, emphasizes moving away from short-term transactions and toward longer-term, trust-based collaborations between farmers, traders, roasters, and retailers. According to Annette Pensel, Executive Director of GCP, “Ensuring the long-term economic viability of sustainable coffee farming and overall farmer prosperity is essential for a resilient supply and competitive coffee sector. This requires shared responsibility and a more coordinated approach across the industry.”

The second principle, Sustainable Coffee Production, encourages conditions that allow farmers to recover their costs and invest in long-term improvements to both their livelihoods and farming systems. Mette-Marie Hansen of IDH said, “By embedding longer-term partnerships and sustainable production conditions, companies can contribute to more resilient supply chains and improved economic viability for farmers. At IDH, this work is seen as a foundation for scaling more responsible purchasing practices across the sector.”

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Andrea Olivar from Solidaridad added that the principles are intended to create a framework where all stakeholders in coffee supply chains—farmers, traders, and retailers—benefit from their efforts. “These principles are fundamental to promoting the prosperity of coffee producers while securing supply for the global market,” she said.

The release of the principles highlights the critical role of procurement in shaping the conditions in which farmers operate. While procurement alone cannot solve all challenges facing coffee producers, when combined with supportive public policies, inclusive finance, and improved farm practices, it can significantly enhance farmer resilience and economic outcomes.

Read also: ICO Relaunches Global Coffee Sustainability Platform with Enhanced Tools

The publication Identifying Common Procurement Principles Specific to Coffee is now available, signaling a growing industry commitment to responsible sourcing and long-term sustainability in coffee production.