Mercon
Coffee Group Signed Joint Partnership with Conservation International
In
an effort to integrate natural climate solutions and reduce overall on-farm
greenhouse gas emissions, Mercon Coffee Group, a global green coffee supplier
committed to creating sustainable livelihoods in coffee-growing communities,
announced that it has partnered with Conservation International, a nonprofit
working to find nature-based solutions to the climate crisis. IDB Invest, theprivate sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, will be
supporting this initiative.
The
partnership will test ways to integrate natural climate solutions into coffee
production. In addition, research will be conducted to understand how specific
activities reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining optimal
productivity levels.
The
project starts with an assessment of Mercon's in-house LIFT program, a
sustainable production program that provides valuable tools, training, and
services to coffee farmers and coffee communities. Through LIFT, Mercon works
directly with thousands of small coffee producers to raise their quality of
life by helping them improve productivity in a social and environmentally
conscious manner. LIFT promotes good agricultural, environmental, and social
practices among coffee farmers. The assessment will make recommendations for
the improvement of the program's forest conservation and reforestation
activities as well as efforts to optimize fertilizers use to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions on farms. Through this partnership, Mercon will be enabled to
estimate the carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions on LIFT coffee farms
in Mercon's origins operations in Central America. Recommendations will be
provided regarding economic incentive mechanisms for coffee farmers, which
would encourage additional on-farm carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas
reduction.
"We
are fully committed to engaging with the right partners to help find innovative
solutions and invest in research and technology that will help us find ways to
solve the sustainability challenges ahead."
Added
Dr. M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International: "Investing in nature
can help deliver a third of the emissions reductions we need to make by 2030.
It's one of the most important things we can do after ending our use of fossil
fuels. Agriculture has a key role to play in these efforts, especially when it
comes to crops as vital to the global economy as coffee. By seizing on coffee's
potential as a critical climate solution, we can help to slow the pace of
global warming even as we create sustainable and resilient livelihoods around
the world."
There
are many other benefits to farmers who implement more sustainable practices,
not the least of which is ensuring that these farms remain in operation for
years to come. Coffee is a very vulnerable crop, and as climate change threatens
its viability, coffee farmers are facing significant threats to their
livelihoods. By working directly alongside farmers in a mutually beneficial
effort to increase sustainability practices and production across all origins,
Mercon also hopes to highlight that it is possible to make coffee part of the
solution to the global climate crisis.
For
the implementation of this project, Mercon is receiving the support from IDB
Invest, the largest development financial institution in Latin America and the
Caribbean, as part of a financing package that includes co-financing and
advisory services to promote raising the living standards of coffee communities
in the region and promoting a positive environmental and social impact.
"At
IDB Invest we are committed to supporting the adoption of impactful climate
action through climate financing and advisory services, while promoting
inclusive business models. Thus, we are excited to support Mercon to lead the
adoption of climate solutions and pave the road for a sustainable and carbon
neutral coffee sector, whilst improving the livelihoods smallholder coffee
growers," said Gema Sacristán, Chief Investment Officer of IDB Invest.
To
contribute transforming the coffee sector, Mercon will share approaches and
lessons learned through this project through the Sustainable Coffee Challenge,
as well as other industry networks. This highlights the importance of working
together to achieve a common good and will ensure that will positively affect
coffee communities and the industry at large.
Mercon
Coffee Group is a global, green coffee supplier that is vertically integrated
and committed to consistently delivering the right quality of coffee to clients
while creating sustainable livelihoods in coffee growing communities. Founded
in 1952 as a coffee export company, Mercon is headquartered in the Netherlands
and ranks among the top 10 leading coffee suppliers in the world, delivering
tailored services to its clients in more than 60 countries from its offices
located across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Mercon is a champion of
sustainability and drives a number of initiatives, including its proprietary
LIFT program that is focused on innovation and the prosperity of coffee
communities around the world. Additionally, Mercon actively supports Seeds for
Progress, the nonprofit organization that aims to improve education to help
grow the coffee communities of tomorrow. Mercon has built an integrated coffee
supply chain recognized for its excellence in commercial and specialty coffees
as well as its operations across farming, production, export, logistics and
risk management.
Conservation
International works to protect the critical benefits that nature provides to
people. Through science, partnerships, and fieldwork, Conservation
International is driving innovation and investments in nature-based solutions
to the climate crisis, supporting protections for critical habitats, and
fostering economic development that is grounded in the conservation of nature.
Conservation International works in 30 countries around the world, empowering
societies at all levels to create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable
planet.
IDB
Invest, a member of the IDB Group, is a multilateral development bank committed
to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America
and the Caribbean through the private sector. IDB Invest finances sustainable
companies and projects to achieve financial results and maximize economic,
social, and environmental development in the region. With a portfolio of $13.1
billion in asset management and 385 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest
provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the
needs of its clients in a variety of industries.