U.S. Joins Conservation Coffee Alliance in Central America
USAID, Starbucks, Conservation International launch effort
September 28, 2004
Seeking to improve the livelihoods of small-scale
coffee farmers and conserve the environment, the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID) has joined forces with
Conservation International (CI) and Starbucks Coffee to create
the Conservation Coffee Alliance, according to a September
27 CI press release.
With a focus on Central America and Mexico, the alliance
promotes private-sector industry approaches that are environmentally
sensitive, socially responsible and economically viable.
The U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza, hosted the official
signing of the memorandum of understanding in Mexico City
launching the alliance.
"USAID began its environmental activities in Mexico
in 1989 and was the first bilateral donor to support the
Mexican Government and conservation community's efforts towards
sustainable development," said Adolfo Franco, USAID
administrator for Latin America.
Building on the success of the six-year partnership between
Starbucks and CI, the alliance uses a field-to-cup approach
to community-level conservation that includes all aspects
of producing, processing and marketing specialty coffee.
The work will provide economic incentives and technical
assistance to help small-scale farmers adopt conservation
practices while producing high-quality coffee. Activities
will focus on CI's projects in Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama.
Alliance efforts have been funded by three-year commitments
from USAID for $1.2 million and Starbucks for $1.5 million.
Goals include increasing the number of coffee producers
participating in the Conservation Coffee program, expanding
the area of coffee fields that are being farmed using best
practices, and making more high-quality sustainable green
coffee available to roasters.
The U.S. government, working primarily through USAID, is
one of the largest bilateral donors in the world.
Information about the project is available at http://www.conservation.org
Text of the Conservation International press release follows:
(begin text)
Conservation International
Press release, September 27, 2004
USAID, Conservation International & Starbucks launch
Conservation Coffee Alliance in Central America
Multi-million dollar alliance launched with US ambassador
in Mexico City to support coffee farmers and environmentally
friendly coffee cultivation
Seeking to improve the livelihoods of small-scale coffee
farmers while conserving the environment, the United States
Government, working through the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) today joined forces with
Conservation International (CI) and Starbucks Coffee Company
(Nasdaq: SBUX) to create the Conservation Coffee Alliance.
With a focus on Central America and Mexico, the Alliance
promotes private sector approaches within the coffee industry
that are environmentally sensitive, socially responsible
and economically viable. The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Tony
Garza, hosted the official signing of the memorandum of understanding
in Mexico City launching the Alliance.
"USAID began its environmental activities in Mexico
in 1989 and was the first bilateral donor to support the
Mexican Government and conservation community's efforts towards
sustainable development," said Adolfo Franco, administrator
for Latin America, U.S. Agency for International Development. "Since
then, USAID's commitment to conservation and social welfare
has grown stronger. USAID is proud to support the Starbucks
-- Conservation International partnership for the benefit
of local communities living in one of Mexico's important
ecosystems. This Alliance approach is a new, creative way
of doing business. It combines market forces and business
interests to help improve the lives of rural people and the
environment worldwide."
Building upon the success of the six-year partnership between
Starbucks and CI, the Alliance uses a field-to-cup approach
to community-level conservation that includes all aspects
of producing, processing and marketing specialty coffee.
The work supported by the Alliance is intended to provide
economic incentives and technical assistance that will enable
small-scale farmers to adopt conservation practices while
producing high quality coffee. Activities will focus on CI's
Conservation CoffeeTM projects in Mexico, Costa Rica and
Panama. Alliance efforts have been funded by three-year commitments
from USAID and Starbucks at $1.2 million and $1.5 million
respectively.
"By uniting the strengths of the government, conservation
and private sectors, we are breaking new ground in supporting
small-scale coffee farmers and raising the scale of biodiversity
conservation in Mexico and Central America," said Glenn
Prickett, senior vice president, Conservation International. "The
Alliance will demonstrate practical, cost-effective methods
to improve the ecological, economic and social integrity
of the world's quality coffee growing regions."
The goals of the Alliance include increasing the number
of coffee producers participating in the Conservation Coffee
program, expanding the area of coffee fields that are being
farmed using best practices, and making more high quality
sustainable green coffee available to roasters. The Alliance
will also engage with interested stakeholders that share
its goals. The long-term objective is to broaden the resource
base available to support small-scale coffee farmers and
biodiversity conservation and enhance the ability to drive
meaningful and measurable changes within the coffee industry.
"One of Starbucks highest priorities is working with
farmers and their communities to encourage and expand the
production of high quality, sustainable coffee and support
farmers' success into the future," said Dub Hay, senior
vice president of Coffee, Starbucks Coffee Company. "The
Conservation Coffee Alliance complements Starbucks holistic
sustainability efforts in coffee origin countries and our
desire to work with others to lead positive change in the
coffee industry."
Since Starbucks and CI began working together in 1998, the
collaboration has produced significant benefits for habitat
conservation and farmer livelihoods in Mexico, Colombia and
Peru. Beginning with its flagship site along the buffer zone
of the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve in southern Mexico, CI
has established several Conservation Coffee project sites
within regions scientists have classified as biodiversity
hotspots. The 25 biodiversity hotspots make up just 1.4 percent
of the planet's surface, yet harbor more than 60 percent
of all plant and animal diversity, and are under increasing
threats according to CI.
CI works directly with farmers to promote environmentally
responsible growing practices such as water and soil conservation,
crop diversification, and chemical fertilizer and pesticide
reduction that help protect the surrounding forest, streams
and wildlife. Starbucks works with CI and the cooperatives
providing farmers with financial support, technical assistance
to raise the quality of their coffee and a market for their
crops. Last year, Starbucks purchased 1.8 million pounds
of Conservation Coffee at price premiums ranging from 60
to 200 percent higher than local prices in Colombia, Mexico
and Peru.
Additionally, Conservation International manages the $6
million Verde Ventures fund which provides debt and equity
financing to coffee cooperatives and other small businesses
contributing to biodiversity conservation in CI's priority
areas. In January 2004, Starbucks announced a $2.5 million
direct loan to help capitalize the fund.
Starbucks has also enabled consumers to support these conservation
efforts by making the high quality, sustainable coffees from
Conservation Coffee project available to Starbucks customers
across North America and in select international markets.
These coffees include Starbucks Organic Shade Grown Mexico,
Decaf Shade Grown Mexico, Conservation Colombia and Starbucks
Peru.
Conservation International believes that the Earth's natural
heritage must be maintained if future generations are to
thrive spiritually, culturally and economically. CI is currently
working on projects in more than 40 countries on four continents
to protect global biodiversity and demonstrate that human
societies can live harmoniously with nature. CI develops
scientific, policy and economic solutions to protect threatened
natural ecosystems that are rich in biodiversity. To find
out more, visit www.conservation.org.
The United States Government, working primarily through
the United States Agency for International Development ("USAID"),
is one of the largest bilateral donors in the world. USAID's
programs promote environmentally sound economic growth, health,
and democracy, as well as providing significant emergency
assistance to countries struggling to recover from disasters.
Starbucks Corporation is the leading retailer, roaster and
brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 8,000
retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe,
the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. The Company is committed
to offering the highest quality coffee and the Starbucks
Experience while conducting its business in ways that produce
social, environmental and economic benefits for communities
in which it does business.
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