Specialty Coffee Association and Colombian Coffee Growers Federation Sign MOU for joint collaboration
May 02 - 2025
Coffee Geography Magazine
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) announced a groundbreaking collaboration at the Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) poised to redefine the future of Colombian specialty coffee. This strategic alliance aims to amplify differentiation, traceability, and global demand for Colombia’s premium coffees while fostering prosperity for its farming communities.
Building on years of successful initiatives, the agreement unites SCA’s global expertise with FNC’s deep-rooted knowledge of Colombian coffee cultivation. Together, they seek to harmonize specialty coffee standards, empower producers, and bridge the gap between origin and market through innovation and data-driven insights.
Germán Bahamón, CEO of the FNC, underscored the partnership’s significance “Colombian coffee growers are the lifeblood of the global specialty coffee movement. By integrating tools like the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA), we amplify the world’s understanding of our coffees’ diversity and excellence—ensuring farmers receive fair recognition and rewards aligned with evolving market tastes. This collaboration isn’t just about quality; it’s about dignity, sustainability, and positioning Colombia as the heartbeat of specialty coffee.”
The partnership’s first phase will focus on embedding the SCA’s CVA methodology into FNC’s operations. Key actions include:
- Training FNC technical teams and cuppers in CVA protocols
- Implementing origin-level data collection to capture nuanced coffee profiles
- Developing a customized CVA platform for broader adoption across Colombia’s coffee regions
- Sharing actionable insights with growers to align production with global trends.
The SCA will provide technical support, develop educational resources, and leverage its global network to promote Colombia’s coffee narratives. Crucially, aggregated CVA data will inform FNC-led research, enabling farmers to anticipate market shifts and optimize value.
Yannis Apostolopoulos, SCA CEO, highlighted the human impact: “This alliance transcends metrics—it’s about honoring the people and stories behind every bean. Coffee isn’t just a score; it’s a testament to heritage, hard work, and possibility. By marrying FNC’s on-the-ground excellence with our global reach, we’re building equitable connections from farm to cup and ensuring Colombia’s extraordinary coffees receive their rightful acclaim.”
Announced at the Specialty Coffee Expo—the industry’s premier event—the MoU signals a paradigm shift for the sector.
The collaboration is projected to:
- Strengthen price transparency and value distribution
- Empower roasters with origin-specific quality insights
- Offer consumers richer narratives about coffee provenance
“When farmers thrive, the entire coffee ecosystem thrives,” noted Bahamón. As this initiative unfolds, it promises to elevate not just beans, but lives, setting a gold standard for quality, ethics, and collaboration in the industry.