Coffee is grown in more than 50 tropical countries by approximately 13 million farmers. It is a major source of foreign exchange earnings for many developing countries. Despite differences, all coffee producing countries face significant economic, social and environmental sustainability challenges. The Swiss Sustainable Coffee Platform will contribute to addressing these challenges and positioning the Swiss coffee sector as a competitive and responsible market player.

The Swiss Sustainable Coffee Platform is the result of an initiative by the Community of Interest Coffee Switzerland, representing the three largest coffee associations in Switzerland – SCTA, procafé and the SRG – and SECO to promote sustainability along the entire coffee value chain. It also includes stakeholder from non-profit organizations and academia.

The Platform will strive to become an information and competence center for peer learning and collaboration on sustainability challenges in the coffee sector. It will address issues such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, living income in producer countries, human rights and labor issues. The SSCP will achieve this by convening members through the establishment of working groups, organizing roundtables, events and webinars.

To apply innovative solutions in practice, the Swiss Sustainable Coffee Platform will co-finance projects in producer countries and thus leverage funds from the private sector.

Component 1: Swiss coffee stakeholders (SSCP members) have expanded sourcing of sustainable coffee and adhere to the goals and targets set in the Roadmap

Component 2: Swiss coffee stakeholders (SSCP members) improved their knowledge on sustainability challenges and good practices through peer learning and collaboration, and implement the good practices in joint projects

Component 3: Coffee producers have improved sustainable farming practices, are integrated in sustainable coffee value chains and enhanced their livelihoods through project support

Risultati principali attesi:  

Component 1: Enhanced alignment and strengthened dialogue among Swiss stakeholders from the private sector, academia, non profit organizations and the government on sustainability in the coffee value chain

Component 2: Effective implementation of measures to foster peer learning and collaboration- development and effective implementation of joint projects

Component 3: Public-private partnership projects contribute to improving sustainability in coffee producing countries by addressing the relevant topics identified in the Roadmap

Risultati fasi precedenti:  

This is the first phase of a planned longer-term commitment by SECO to support the SSCP. The SSCP will collaborate closely with the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa drawing on its experience and benefit from its expertise.