The 130th session for the International Coffee Council convened online from the 9 to 10 September, focusing on the council’s work programme and budget for the 2021/2022 coffee year.
The International Council Coffee gathers more than 40 Members representing exporting and importing countries, including the member states of the European Union, under the chairmanship of Mr John Muldowney (EU-Ireland), supported by the Vice-Chair Ambassador Iván Romero-Martínez (Honduras).
The session focuses on the “significant strides” made in the revision of the 2007 International Coffee Agreement (ICA). Following standard practice, the current 2007 Agreement is expected to be renewed, to ensure International Coffee Organization (ICO) members have the necessary time to agree and ratify a new ICA.
According to the ICO, this new agreement will have a stronger emphasis on partnerships with the private sector and civil society, along with development and financial institutions. It will also strive towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Members will also review the candidates for the position of ICO Executive Director who is set to take office on 1 May 2022.
Recommendations from the Coffee Public-Private Task Force (CPPTF) will also be examined, with the CPPTF agreeing on new commitments for the coffee industry and government including market transparency, sustainable production, and responsible sourcing.
The CPPTF has also discussed ways to address the current price volatility in coffee that has been caused by adverse climate conditions in major coffee producing countries, rising freight costs, and other disruptions to trade flows, such as lockdown restrictions.
The session convened after the meetings of the other International Coffee Organization (ICO) bodies and the third CEO & Global Leaders Forum (CGLF) which was held from 1 to 8 September.
The third CGLF was part of the ICO-led structured sector-wide dialogue which was held in a closed session on 8 September.
This event brought together executives across the coffee value chain, producers, traders, roasters, retailers, and decision-makers in the public sector, together with development partners and civil society.
Together, these stakeholders considered the CPPTF’s suggestions, taking steps towards developing measurable commitments.
During the third CGLF, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network gave a keynote speech with interventions from the Minister of Agriculture in Brazil, the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, Starbucks, and Volcafe.
Together they collectively addressed the current issues and how to create a sustainable future for coffee.
The ICO is a multilateral organisation that supports exporting and importing countries with a goal to improve coffee sector sustainability. The International Coffee Council is the governing body of the ICO, and meets twice a year to discuss issues related to promoting a sustainable coffee sector.
For more information on the council, visit www.internationalcoffeecouncil.com