COFFEE BEANS IN AFRICA. YOUNG PEOPLE AND TRAINING FOR SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAINS

In collaboration with MAECI/UNIDO

Mario Bruscino, Vice-President of the Italian Coffee Committee and Green Coffee Purchasing Manager at Caffè Borbone; Edmondo Cirielli, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Primus Kimaryo, Director-General of the Tanzania Coffee Board; Henry Kinyua, Advisor on Crops & Value Chains at the Presidential Economic Transformation Secretariat, Kenya; Fabio Petroni, Programme Director at the E4Impact Foundation, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Chiara Scaraggi, coffee value chain expert at UNIDO. Moderator: Gerardo Patacconi, Consultant to the International Coffee Organisation

The initiative, which forms part of a wider Italian strategy in the coffee sector, stems from the need to strengthen the resilience of the coffee supply chain in the face of the challenges it is currently facing, starting with those linked to climate change, falling productivity and the economic insecurity of smallholder farmers. The Italian initiative therefore aims to support rural communities and transform the entire value chain, improving product quality and promoting circular economy practices. In particular, the panel intends to focus on the importance for the coffee sector of investing in the younger generation and in training, as a driver for growth across the African continent. The ACT Programme pursues this commitment through a series of activities, foremost among which is the creation of innovative Coffee Training Centres (CTCs). These centres offer professionals courses dedicated to advanced techniques – such as quality control, roasting and brewing – and help producers integrate the circular economy and resource efficiency to compete in international markets. The event will therefore be an opportunity to reflect on how investing in the future of the supply chain represents the first step towards making it truly sustainable, whilst contributing to the economic development of partner countries.