For Peru, coffee and cocoa are not only agricultural inputs that contribute to the country's exports, they also mean prosperity, inclusion and livelihood. They are the driving force behind over 20 cocoa and coffee-growing provinces, providing more than two million jobs and providing 350,000 producing families a home. 

There is a great opportunity to strengthen and increase the production of the inputs in the country to unleash the development of even more Peruvian families. The first thing to do is to understand the opportunities and challenges that exist within the sector, and The Coffee and Cocoa Convention contributes annually with a technical event that presents the problems, news and trends of the sector. 

What is the Coffee and Cocoa Convention?

The National Coffee and Cocoa Convention is an event organized by the Peruvian Coffee and Cocoa Chamber that brings together industry experts and professionals to discuss and share knowledge on various aspects related to the production, consumption, trade and sustainability of these two important agricultural products. 

This event features a series of panels and activities discussing topics relevant to the industry, you can learn more here:

https://www.camcafeycacao.com/

This event is important for the country's development because Peru is one of the main producers of coffee and cocoa in the world. These products are an important driver of the country's economy, generating employment and contributing to exports. 

The convention allows participants to share best practices and learn about the latest trends and challenges in the industry. The discussion is based on improving productivity and sustainability of crop production. 

What was ECOM's contribution to this convention? 

This year, ECOM's participation was focused on contributing, through our experience and perspective, to the presentation of the speaker Alvaro Llobet: "Productivity, quality and traceability: the new demands for the field". 

Although various topics relevant to the industry were discussed at this convention, ranging from productivity to the impacts of climate change, in this article we will detail the 4 important points that our Head of Coffee, John Grillo Carrasco, made during his participation:

1. 1. Achievements in the Peruvian coffee industry, particularly in terms of quality, sustainability, productivity and profitability. 

Coffee is Peru's main agricultural export product, and is a major source of employment and income, contributing a total of US$700 million to the national agricultural GDP (2018). In addition, with some 90,000 certified organic hectares, it is the world's leading exporter of organic coffee, according to the USDA. 

Internationally recognized as an important player in the production and export of high quality coffees, Peru leads Fairtrade coffee exports at a global level, with a little over 1 million quintals per year, of which 80% is organic. 

In an effort to position the different attributes of Peruvian coffee, the brand "Cafés del Perú" was launched to represent all the types of coffee that are produced in the Peruvian territory and that are characterized by their high quality. Additionally, work has been carried out on the "National Coffee Plan", which will allow the standardization of processes and actions for the growth of the industry. 

2. 2. How can we contribute to this profitability? What is our role? 

One way to contribute to profitability is by standardizing training on a farm management basis. This goes from the training of our field technicians, to the producers and their families (it is important for the family to participate in the management of the business).

It is crucial to facilitate access to financial services for coffee growers, as proposed in the National Action Plan for Peruvian Coffee 2019-2030. 

As ECOM, we contribute by providing training and technical advice to farmers to improve productivity and coffee quality. We also help farmers access international markets and obtain coffee certifications that improve their income and, with good management, their profitability. 

3. 3. Challenges that the industry needs to address. 

The Peruvian National Coffee Action Plan 2019-2030 addresses challenges such as increasing agricultural competitiveness and market insertion, managing natural resources and biodiversity sustainably, and improving the quality of Peruvian coffee for export. 

The need to professionalize government departments related to coffee is also mentioned, which requires the integral and articulated intervention of more than one sector. 

4. 4. Need for efficiency in innovation. 

As ECOM, we seek to help in this aspect by sharing knowledge and experiences from other origins where we operate, and helping to implement innovations and best practices. For example, with genetics, fertilizers, farm designs, proven agroforestry systems, etc.

Contributing to the development of the sector and of all those involved in the value chains is an important part of our objectives.