Filtering by: “Inclusive Business Models”

Apr
26

A Critical Look at Direct Trade & Micro-lots

Lecture Description

As part of Sustainable Harvest's Unsustainable Project Campaign, we are examining unsustainable practices in the specialty coffee trade. Our goal is to foster a meaningful conversation on social, environmental, and fiscal sustainability for the industry.

This panel will explore the benefits and challenges of two key models in specialty: micro-lots and direct trade.

Micro-lots: We will discuss how micro-lots can benefit producers through premium pricing and quality differentiation, and where it might fall short. How can roasters deepen their engagement with producers?

Direct Trade: This discussion will explore the market limitations of direct trade, such as logistical and financial challenges. We’ll also examine it’s the potential for producers to engage in transparent, equitable relationships and greater autonomy within the supply chain. What more can be done to strengthen this model? What is at risk in our current market environment.

By exploring these models, we want to identify strategies that promote true sustainability and have everyone a part of the conversation. This panel will offer insights into how roasters and producers can shift from transactional relationships to long-term partnerships that drive meaningful change.

Date: Saturday April 26, 2025
Time:
11:30am - 12:30pm
Location:
Room 352DEF
Category:
Sustainability

Access: This lecture is free to attend with a Specialty Coffee Expo entry badge. Register to attend Specialty Coffee Expo here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.


Moderator

Danna Wasserman (she/her)
Sustainable Trading Manager, Sustainable Harvest

Danna is a Sustainable Trading Manager at Sustainable Harvest, with 10 years of experience in green coffee trading. She began her career in 2014 at Zephyr Green Coffee and joined Sucafina in 2017, where she became Senior Trader and East African specialty buyer for North America. Danna joined Sustainable Harvest in 2024, expanding her direct trade network beyond East Africa. She champions the company’s commitment to transparently connecting roasters and producers. Danna currently leads initiatives focused on carbon tracking, sustainability reporting, and living income, advancing both environmental and social responsibility in the coffee industry.



Kyle Tush (he/him)
Coffee Buyer, Counter Culture Coffee

Kyle Tush is a coffee buyer at Counter Culture Coffee, a North Carolina-based roasting company recognized for pioneering sustainable sourcing practices at the onset of the third wave movement. With nearly two decades of industry experience, Kyle has spent the past twelve years at Counter Culture, contributing across multiple facets of the business, including production roasting, quality control, and green coffee procurement. His work centers on finding the ever-shifting balance point between quality and sustainability—one that benefits all parts of the value chain. When he’s not buried in spreadsheets or cupping through tables of samples, you can find Kyle and his family eating and drinking their way through their hometown of Durham, North Carolina.

Jay Kling (he/him)
Founder, Efficiency.coffee

Jay Kling is a professional green coffee buyer and the founder of www.efficiency.coffee. Jay's mission is to increase the sustainability of the specialty coffee industry by helping coffee roasters get better at supply chain management. When we manage our inventory well, project demand accurately, and run efficient supply chains, we save money that makes our businesses more sustainable. If you want to pay equitable prices for coffee at origin, you have to run a tight business at the roastery!


Yisak W. Ketema (he/him)
Marketing Manager, Testi specialty coffee

Yisak W. Ketema, a second generation member in a family owned company which is one of the leading and influential in the Ethiopian specialty export market worldwide.

Jose Rivera (he/him)
Director of Sourcing, Origin Coffee Lab

We can’t talk only about Pepe without mention his main pilar, Mariagracia, both of them have had an incredible journey, both professionally and personally, that has shaped their approach to coffee and their business. Their story speaks to the importance of experience, cultural exposure, and a deep commitment to quality. Their return to Cajamarca and focus on specialty coffee from northern Peru, especially Jaen and San Ignacio, is inspiring. Highlighting individual coffee lots and showcasing the communities behind them speaks volumes about their dedication to not just the product, but to the people who make it possible.

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Apr
26

From the Ground Up: Experiences from a Community-Led Development Incubator in Coffee-Producing Regions

Lecture Description

This panel will spotlight the transformative power of community-led development in coffee-growing communities across Latin America and East & Central Africa. Local leaders who have participated in The Chain Collaborative’s Community-Led Development Incubator will share their experiences, from identifying community challenges to designing and implementing impactful solutions. Attendees will hear first-hand accounts of their projects and key takeaways and learnings from the process. The session will highlight the importance of centering local expertise and leadership to drive sustainable change in the coffee sector. 

Date: Saturday April 26, 2025
Time:
10:15am - 11:15am
Location:
Room 360ABC
Category:
Sustainability

Access: This lecture is free to attend with a Specialty Coffee Expo entry badge. Register to attend Specialty Coffee Expo here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.


Speakers

Nora Burkey (she/her)
Founder and Executive Director, The Chain Collaborative

Nora is the founder and director of The Chain Collaborative (TCC), a 10-year-old non-profit that practices and promotes community-led development (CLD) in the coffee sector. Through their CLD Incubator program, they invest in projects that are designed by local leaders of community-based organizations and coffee associations in coffee-growing regions of Africa and Latin America. Under the banner of TCC and in collaboration with other industry colleagues, Nora also consults on various assignments in the development and agricultural sectors. Past and present clients include Fairtrade International, Root Capital, Nature Conservancy, Sustainable Coffee Challenge, and more.

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Apr
26

Shared Value Through Circular Economy and Regenerative Agriculture

Lecture Description

The global coffee industry generates over 40 million tons of biomass annually from coffee processing. This biological material is an underutilized resource full of potential. There is wealth in coffee beyond the three billion cups consumed daily -- by enhancing resource efficiency through circular economy, we can cultivate new products, create jobs, diversify producers’ income streams, and protect our environment.

The latest Coffee Development Report by International Coffee Organization, “Beyond Coffee: Toward a Coffee Circular Economy,” explores the transformative potential of circular economy in coffee. Co-created in partnership with the International Trade Centre, Lavazza Foundation, Politecnico di Torino, and the Center for Circular Economy in Coffee, this edition of the CDR is informed by a global multi-stakeholders working group, part of the ITC Coffee Guide Network.

This panel discussion brings the findings to life through a discussion with coffee organizations who aim to integrate circular economy and regenerative agriculture holistically throughout the coffee value chain. How can these practices not only be environmentally sustainable, but also generate shared, equitable economic value for coffee stakeholders? What challenges limit the adaptation in practice? What is the role of coffee stakeholders in addressing the challenges to promote widespread adoption of these practices?

Date: Saturday April 26, 2025
Time:
9:00am - 10:00am
Location:
Room 360ABC
Category:
Sustainability

Access: This lecture is free to attend with a Specialty Coffee Expo entry badge. Register to attend Specialty Coffee Expo here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.


Speakers

Katherine Oglietti
Coffee Guide Network Coordinator, International Trade Centre

Katherine Oglietti coordinates the Coffee Guide Network with the International Trade Centre’s Alliances for Action initiative. She is also the Co-Coordinator of the Center for Circular Economy in Coffee (C4CEC). She facilitates pre-competitive collaboration to deepen and share knowledge toward a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable coffee sector. With over 20 years of experience in international development, her background ranges from coffee importing, nonprofit work, and academia. She proudly served 3 years in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua and holds an MBA and MA in International Development Studies from The George Washington University.

Vanusia Carneiro Nogueira
Executive Director, International Coffee Organization

Vanúsia Nogueira comes from a family of coffee producers and started her career at PwC Consulting, where she was a partner and worked for 15 years. She started working directly with coffee in 2002, always focusing on niche markets.
She served as Executive Director at BSCA from 2007 through April 2022 and took over as Executive Director at the International Coffee Organization in May 2022.
Vanúsia holds a PhD in Administration/Marketing from Rosario National University in Argentina, a BS in Systems Engineering and Administration from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RJ) and MBAs and post-MBA focusing on Management, Marketing and Advanced Project Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas in Rio de Janeiro.

Ed Canty
General Manager, Cooperative Coffees

Ed Canty's coffee career began three decades ago in a Portland, Maine coffee shop where he learned the craft of roasting and the pleasure of customer service. His interest in coffee quality and the communities that grow coffee led him to the role of a Fair Trade and Organic coffee buyer and further on as a coffee importer. He values transparency, principled negotiations, intelligent system design, and regenerative agricultural practices that improve quality and producer livelihood through trade. He lives in the hills of Vermont with his partner Christe and children Asher and Emma.

Thomas Käslin
CEO, Cotierra

Thomas Käslin is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cotierra, a company focused on decarbonizing and building resilient agricultural value chains through decentralized biochar solutions. Married to a Colombian wife and through his time spent in the country, he recognized the real challenges many local communities are facing, especially farming communities that are most affected by climate change. His objective is to leverage carbon finance and strong collaboration with value chain partners to build stronger supply chains and decarbonize the agricultural sector, starting with coffee.

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Apr
25

B Corps & Beyond: An economy to benefit people, communities, and the planet

Lecture Description


The traditional profit-driven business model often overlooks systemic challenges like inequality and climate change. These issues not only harm businesses in the long term but also conflict with the core values of many purpose-driven companies. Models like B Corps, along with other innovative business models, offer businesses a way to build long-term resilience, spark innovation, and achieve sustainability while maintaining financial performance.

Though the regulatory environment in the U.S. remains uncertain, particularly with the upcoming administration, there is broad agreement that the future of business—shaped by policies such as the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation)—will demand greater ethical accountability. Businesses will need to adapt to increasing expectations for sustainable and socially responsible practices.

This panel, featuring Forum for the Future, B Lab, and two B Corps from the coffee sector, will explore the possibilities of innovative business models in reimagining how businesses can work. Attendees will hear about the benefits and challenges of becoming a B Corp, gain insights to guide businesses considering alternative models, and leave with practical tools to enhance sustainability in any organization, regardless of its business model.

Date: Friday April 25, 2025
Time:
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Location:
Room 361ABC
Category:
Sustainability

Access: This lecture is free to attend with a Specialty Coffee Expo entry badge. Register to attend Specialty Coffee Expo here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.


Speakers

Adam Pesce

President, Reunion Coffee Roasters

Adam Pesce is the President of Reunion Coffee Roasters in Toronto, a B Corp-certified specialty roaster, wholesaler and retailer.

Adam is a member of the board of the Coffee Association of Canada, and leads its Sustainability Committee. He was a member of the SCA’s Sustainability Council, founder of the SCA’s Canadian Chapter and has served for 11 years on the board of Grounds for Health.

Over the course of his 20-year career in coffee, Adam has travelled around the world extensively as a passionate advocate of sustainability in coffee and business, and as a buyer.

Lee Wallace

CEO, Peace Coffee

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Apr
25

The Future of Indian Coffee: A Focus on Specialty, Sustainability and Access

Lecture Description

This panel discussion will delve into the dynamic landscape of Indian specialty coffee. We will explore the factors driving the growth of the Indian specialty coffee industry, including advancements in cultivation, processing, and quality control and research. A key focus will be on the sustainability of traditional coffee-growing practices in India. We'll discuss the importance of shade-grown coffee, natural forest environments, and rich biodiversity. Additionally, the panel will highlight the unique value of endemic Indian coffee species and the ongoing research into climate-resilient species.  The panel will discuss strategies to enhance access to global markets, such as building strong brand identities, fostering sustainable partnerships, and leveraging direct trade relationships.  By examining the challenges and opportunities facing the Indian specialty coffee sector, this panel aims to stimulate insightful discussions and foster collaborations among industry stakeholders.

Date: Friday April 25, 2025
Time:
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Location:
Room 360ABC
Category:
Sustainability

Access: This lecture is free to attend with a Specialty Coffee Expo entry badge. Register to attend Specialty Coffee Expo here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.


Moderator

Amaris Gutierrez-Ray (she/her)
VP of Coffee, Joe Coffee Company

Amaris Gutierrez-Ray is the VP of Coffee for Joe Coffee Company, a roaster in New York City that owns and operates 25 cafes in the 5 boroughs. She was the founder of the Women in Coffee Project, and is now a collaborative co-founder of TWICE (Team Women in Coffee Exchange).

Panelists

Komal Sable (she/her)
Founder, South India Coffee Company

Komal Sable, a serial entrepreneur, co-founded South India Coffee Company (SICC) in 2017. Born in Pune, Maharashtra, she is a Q Processing Level 2 - Professional and also a Post Harvesting Processing Lecturer. Komal's entrepreneurial journey extends across various sectors, including technology, fashion, and lifestyle services. SICC is a collaborative supply chain company that sources sustainably produced Indian specialty coffee with delivery across the world. Its mission is to work with coffee producers, roasters, and importers to create a more equitable and sustainable coffee industry.

Akshay Dashrath (he/him)
Specialty Coffee Producer & Researcher, South India Coffee Company

Akshay Dashrath leads research at South India Coffee Company, focusing on developing drought-tolerant, low-intervention coffee species. He manages operations as Mooleh Manay Estate, cultivating specialty coffee and black pepper using data-driven, sustainable practices. His work emphasizes agroforestry and multi-cropping, aiming for financial, environmental, and social sustainability in South India's shaded coffee regions. He's actively evaluating non-traditional coffee species and hybrids for future propagation, driving innovation in the coffee research world.

Tanya Rao (she/her)
Founder & Roaster, Kaveri Coffee Works

Tanya Rao is the founder of Kaveri Coffee Works, the Bay Area's first woman-owned coffee company specializing in premium Indian coffee. Based in Berkeley, she expertly sources and roasts beans to showcase India's rich coffee heritage and unique flavor profiles. With a diverse background in software, finance, education, and specialty foods, Tanya is a recognized leader and innovator, passionate about building a sustainable coffee business and elevating Indian coffee on the global stage.

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Apr
25

Coffee’s Role in Building Better Futures for Farmers

Lecture Description

Coffee-growing communities face extraordinary challenges, from climate change and food insecurity to economic instability and lack of public services. Addressing these complexities requires innovative and holistic solutions—and that’s where collaboration between nonprofits and the coffee industry shines.

This panel brings together leaders from Food 4 Farmers, Grounds for Health, and Equal Origins to explore what makes community support initiatives successful. Through real-world examples, we’ll discuss how projects that focus on the broader context of coffee farmers’ lives—not just coffee production—can drive lasting change. Panelists will share key steps to cultivating meaningful impact, highlight the critical role the coffee industry can play as an ally, and demonstrate how our collective work supports coffee-growing communities facing urgent threats.

Attendees will leave with actionable insights into how the coffee community can support and scale impactful programs, ensuring a sustainable future for coffee and the farmers who grow it. Whether you’re a roasting company, coffee producer, or nonprofit professional, this panel offers a chance to learn, collaborate, and deepen your commitment to building resilience in coffee-growing regions. Together, we can harness the power of the coffee industry as a force for good.

Date: April 25, 2025
Time:
11:30am - 12:30pm
Location:
Room 352DEF
Category:
Sustainability

Access: This lecture is free to attend with a Specialty Coffee Expo entry badge. Register to attend Specialty Coffee Expo here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.


Panelists

This panel brings together leaders with decades of experience addressing food security, gender equity, health, and sustainability in coffee-growing communities. Their combined expertise offers attendees actionable insights into building resilient, inclusive, and thriving communities.

Marcela Pino
Co-Founder, Food 4 Farmers

Marcela has over 20 years of experience designing programs that empower coffee farmers through food security and economic diversification. Her expertise in agroecology and participatory development provides a holistic approach to supporting farming families.

Kyle Engleman
Executive Director, Grounds for Health

Kyle brings a global perspective on health equity in coffee communities. Her background in designing and evaluating rural healthcare programs demonstrates the importance of integrating health solutions into community development.

Kimberly Easson
Founder and CEO, Equal Origins

Kimberly’s 30+ years in sustainable trade and gender equity make her a leading voice in building inclusive supply chains. Her work emphasizes partnerships that address the social and economic challenges facing coffee farmers, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Together, these panelists represent a diverse range of perspectives and practical expertise, offering strategies for coffee professionals to support impactful, community-driven initiatives.

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Apr
25

Promoting Wealth for Women: the Macro Impact of Microfinance

Lecture Description

Following up on a 2023 webinar series entitled “Promoting Wealth for Women in Coffee,” this panel will address the powerful, proven concept of microfinance and microcredit and how it could be leveraged more in coffee. The panelists will define what microfinance is, present on microfinance programs across several projects and countries, and avoid the pitfall of presenting microcredit (broadly) as a 'New Idea,’ as this is a long running effort that has intersected with many other industries. The panelists will emphasize and investigate the clear and proven impacts, as well as the often overlooked side effects. One of the programs that will be presented is the “Learning Loan Microfinance” program, which acknowledged that economic, civil or natural disaster shocks will always be risk variables to longterm sustainability, but when vulnerable women learn skills, like financial and business literacy skills, those are sustainable, and they will have a stronger platform from which to recover from a shock. Women may not “lift themselves out of poverty” because of one loan, but they will have everlasting skills. The financial education and experience that women gain from a microfinance program is a valuable piece that is often overlooked in impact studies.

Date: April 25, 2025
Time:
10:15am - 11:15am
Location:
Room 360ABC
Category:
Sustainability

Access: This lecture is free to attend with a Specialty Coffee Expo entry badge. Register to attend Specialty Coffee Expo here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.


Moderator

Amaris Gutierrez-Ray
Founder, Women in Coffee Project

Amaris Gutierrez-Ray is the VP of Coffee for Joe Coffee Company, a roaster in New York City that owns and operates 25 cafes in the 5 boroughs. She was the founder of the Women in Coffee Project, and is now a collaborative co-founder of TWICE (Team Women in Coffee Exchange).

Panelists

Roberta Lauretti-Bernhard
Vice President, Food Enterprise Solutions/ Grow to Market

Roberta Lauretti-Bernhard began her career in the Peace Corps as a livestock extension agent for the Ministry of Agriculture in Guatemala.  This fueled her passion for helping farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs, particularly -women and youth-to improve their business and financial literacy, and access to markets. Roberta has core competencies in supply management in various value chains; livestock, poultry, vegetables, coffee, cacao, etc. She co-designed a “Learning Loan Microfinance” project and training manual and is a co-owner and Vice President at Food Enterprise Solutions. Roberta has extensive overseas expertise with multiple donor organizations, private companies, and foundations in 42 countries. 

Ruth Ann Church
President / Founder, Artisan Coffee Imports

RUTH ANN CHURCH is the president of Artisan Coffee Imports founded in 2009. Her company trades East African coffee in sustainable ways to improve the lives of farmers, deliver on the brand promises of its roaster customers and uplift producer organizations through support for their management and continuous improvement efforts. Artisan sponsors the IWCA and SCTG. Ruth Ann is an SCA member, certified Q Grader, frequent presenter at coffee events and author of papers on coffee economics and sustainability. Her most treasured experience is when she was living in Rwanda with her family, 2015 - 2016.

Sara Yirga Woldegerima
CEO, Roaster & AST, YA COFFEE ROASTERS

Sara Yirga is a driving force in Ethiopia's specialty coffee scene. As founder and manager of YA Coffee Roasters, a women-led artisan roastery and export company established in 2012, she champions Ethiopian roasted-at-origin coffee. She also created Cherish Addis Coffee & Books, a beloved specialty coffee shop in Addis Ababa. A co-founder of Ethiopian Women in Coffee (IWCA), Sara is an Authorized Specialty Trainer (AST) since 2018, significantly advancing coffee education in Ethiopia. A graduate of Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Coffee Excellence, she is a sought-after speaker at industry events like SCA, AFCA, and WoC.

Natali Venegas
ONG, Bean Voyage

Natali has been working as a Project Lead for Bean Voyage’s Farmer School Initiative in Costa Rica, where she empowers smallholder coffee producers through education, resources, and support networks. With experience in strategy, digital marketing, and working with women coffee producers, she focuses on training in areas such as gender equity and sustainability in the coffee industry.

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Apr
25

Bioeconomic Potential of Coffee By-Products: Applications and Opportunities

Lecture Description

In this presentation, we will explore the potential of coffee by-products within the bioeconomy, addressing how to convert agricultural residues into valuable resources for various industries. Coffee production generates large volumes of by-products, such as pulp, mucilage, parchment, and grounds, which can have applications in sectors such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and energy. Each of these materials offers opportunities for a circular, low-carbon economy, contributing to sustainability and new sources of income for producers and rural communities.

We will discuss recent studies and success stories on the extraction of antioxidants, fibers, biofuels, and biofertilizers derived from coffee, showing how innovation in by-product valorization can meet the demand for greener and more sustainable products. The talk will provide attendees with an understanding of the market trends and emerging technologies that are transforming the coffee sector, as well as insights into the positive economic and environmental impact these developments can offer in the context of the global bioeconomy.

This session is aimed at researchers, industry professionals, and entrepreneurs interested in sustainable solutions and innovative business models in the coffee sector.

Date: April 25, 2025
Time:
10:15am - 11:15am
Location:
Room 352DEF
Category:
Sustainability

Access: This lecture is free to attend with a Specialty Coffee Expo entry badge. Register to attend Specialty Coffee Expo here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.


Speakers

Andrés Felipe Bahamón Monje (he/him)
Master in Coffee Science & Technology, Surcolombiana University

Andrés Felipe Bahamón Monje is a researcher at the Centro Surcolombiano de Investigación en Café (Cesurcafé) of the Universidad Surcolombiana and a professor in the Agroindustrial Engineering program. His work focuses on post-harvest, quality, and valorization of coffee and cocoa by-products, with a special interest in fermentation, drying, and transformation processes. He has led national and international research projects financed by the General System of Royalties and has collaborated with international institutions in applied research. His experience in physicochemical, sensory, and encapsulation analysis has allowed him to contribute to the development of innovative products and strengthen sustainable coffee growing.

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