All Projects

Educating the new generation of coffee producers

Education / Brazil and Colombia

Producing over 70% of Brazilian Arabica coffee, the mountainous state of Minas Gerais is characterized by low mechanization and poor dissemination of good agricultural practices. The resulting low productivity, hard labor and low incomes make younger generations reluctant to take over family coffee production. The Huila district of Colombia faces similar challenges.

our Impact

icon-scholars2.png

590

students

icon-farmers.png

105

farmers

icon-women2.png

295

female beneficiaries

icon-micro-programs2.png

800+

hours of practical activities

Our work

Run in partnership with Louis Dreyfus Company, Instituto Louis Dreyfus and local coffee cooperatives, the program aims to transmit a passion for coffee to the next generation and disseminate good agricultural practices among coffee growers. This will be done through training in schools (to instill a taste for coffee production in the new generation) and in local farms, focusing on the adoption of best practices, and on sustainable coffee production topics such as soil and water conservation, coffee rejuvenation and the safe use of crop protection products. Interaction between students and farmers will be encouraged through practical projects on coffee farms. 

Expected impact

The project targets 230 students and 75 farmers in the first year across both countries, aiming to reach a total of 436 students and 75 farmers in the third year. The program is expected to result in a renewed interest among younger coffee farmers, and to help students find a vocation without resorting to rural emigration, helping to preserve coffee culture in the region, promoting knowledge transmission and strengthening community ties. Reduced production costs and better quality coffee should ultimately contribute to increased revenues. Finally, the focus on sustainable coffee production is expected to have the added benefit of creating the conditions for environmental preservation.

About our partner

Created in 2018, Instituto Louis Dreyfus (ILD) is supporting the projects of the Louis Dreyfus Foundation in Brazil. Through the implementation of micro-farming and education projects, the ILD helps improve food security of vulnerable rural communities in Brazil using sustainable agricultural practices.

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods, leveraging its global reach and extensive asset network to deliver for its customers around the world – safely, responsibly and reliably. 

Coocafé is one of the biggest coffee cooperatives of the eastern part of Minas Gerais State in Brazil. With its wide network of specialists, Coocafé provides commercial and technical assistance as well as storage facilities to coffee growers.

Asprotimaná cooperative is located in Timaná municipality, Huila district and consolidates 2,200 ha of coffee plantations. Asprotimaná is recognized as one of the leading cooperatives trading coffee and providing technical assistance to coffee producers with sound environmental and social practices.

Project duration

2019-2022

My son, Gustavo, is one of the students that is benefiting from the project and I am very proud that he is now exposed to education on best coffee practices. When he arrived at home and shared news on his participation in this project, he was very excited and looking forward to future classes. The knowledge he is receiving in the school will bring a lot of benefits both to Gustavo and us.

Adeguimar Pereira Coffee producer, Brazil