An Overview Of Our Solution
A major issue for coffee producers is the low, unpredictable price they have to sell raw coffee. The normal market price changes daily and at times falls below the cost of production. Coffee mills are where farmers process their coffee cherries. If processed carefully and done with the correct equipment, their coffee can enter the specialty coffee market, where prices will be fixed, predictable, and sustainable. Many farmers in Colombia cannot process their coffee at a high standard, making it difficult to access the specialty market. We are building an advanced community wet mill and processing hub in Colombia so that quality can raise and doors opened to the specialty market. It will provide predictable cash flow and the ability for farmers to be involved in sales negotiations.
Who is this solution impacting?
Community Type
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: South America
General Information
Organization type
Other
Ecosystem (select all that apply)
Forests
Population impacted
25 families
Challenge
Size of agricultural area
200 hartares
Production quantity
525,000 kilos of parchment coffee
People employed
10 people
Solution
Describe your solution
El Fénix community wet mill is centrally located and focused only on processing for the specialty market. Neighbours of the El Fénix can sell their cherries for fixed prices as soon as they are picked; solving both the issues of timing/cash flow and predictability/planning of income. Once milled, those who supplied cherry can come learn to roast and cup their coffee alongside their neighbours and buyers from overseas, fostering an understanding of how farming practices translate into cup characteristics while opening further doors through international connections. Being part of the finished milled green export price negotiation means producers can have control and transparency around what is valuable to importers and roasters. Keeping lots separate where possible, continual experimentation, and feedback from buyers will help drive quality and price up. Farmers can learn about quality controls at the mill and other sustainable measures for their farms through the information shared at the community hub. This gives incentives to make the best possible farming practices at controlled, deliberate increased costs (paying pickers by the day rather than by kg) as opposed to the common 'race-to-the-bottom' (avoiding costly inputs like fertiliser) that occurs when prices are unknown. This information can also include: conservation practices for their lands and the nearby rivers, changing fertilisers to organic, or planting of shade trees and improving the biodiversity on their farms.
Implementation
Describe your implementation
We've found that in Colombia it is the cherry selection, processing, and drying stages where much coffee quality is lost. The equipment, time, and expertise are expensive, making achieving the highest possible quality of coffee quite difficult for many producers. So, our solution is to build the most state of the art wet mill that we can with a community hub where farmers can ask questions and learn about better practices. We raised funds to build this mill through Kickstarter so that anyone in the specialty coffee worldwide could support and get involved in this project.
Sorting, pulping, fermentation, washing, and drying are critical steps in maintaining or developing flavours in coffee. There are many aspects to be controlled or manipulated throughout this processing that are tough to achieve without financial investment, time, and knowledge. Thanks to the Kickstarter and the many experts that have got involved, we have the support and resources to achieve the desired results we want. The knowledge that will be shared with farmers at the mill will make huge impacts on the environment and biodiversity of the area. Coffee professionals from around the world have volunteered to provide further knowledge and assistance for years to come.
External connections
Caravan Coffee Roasters and Flight Coffee are two businesses that have been huge financial supporters, along with great friends throughout the whole process. These two groups have also been essential in spreading information about this project to customers and others in the specialty coffee community. Many other business and individuals have been very helpful financially and with information gathering and spreading. We have had many professionals endorse our project, including former World Barista Champions, the technical director of the Coffee Quality Institute, the RE:CO director, staff from World Coffee Events, and many more. Not only have these professionals endorsed our project, but have offered advice, constructive criticism, and services. Finally, all of our clients create the demand that makes it possible for the project to be viable long term.
Results
What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?
The environmental challenge that we are facing is the possibility of leaf rust or epidemics that could wipe out the region's coffee harvest. We are experimenting with a wide range of varieties with differing genetics and strengths/susceptibilities at the farm/wet mill location. We encourage crop diversity with all our neighbours and those who will be selling to the mill. Climate change has caused diseases previously confined to lower altitudes to move higher - now encroaching on where classic, susceptible varieties are historically grown. We are planting more resilient varieties at lower, warmer altitudes, and promoting farm-wide biodiversity to prevent outbreaks. At the future quality control education lab located at the wet mill, we plan to teach farmers about ecosystem sustainability and organic practices with microorganisms that will assist in preventing crop disease.
Describe the context in which you are operating
The largest challenge to coffee producers that we are working to resolve is the low and unpredictable price they can sell raw coffee for. The normal market price changes daily, and falls below the cost of production at times with dire results.
Coffee mills are where farmers process their harvested coffee cherries. They remove the pulp, ferment, wash, and dry them over some weeks to become "parchment" coffee. After dry milling and sorting we have green beans that are bought by importers and roasted up for you to enjoy. If this process is handled carefully and done with the correct equipment, the coffee can be rated so highly it enters the specialty coffee market, where prices can be fixed, predictable, and sustainable.
Not everyone has access to this market though. To control all the variables in processing and own all the equipment is expensive. Because of this, many farmers in Colombia cannot process their coffee at a high standard and live not being sure if they’ll profit from their crop. On top of this, a lot of great coffee is never seeing its potential.
How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?
At the El Fénix farm, we have planted five different varietals of coffee amounting to over 8000 trees. On a neighbouring farm we have planted an addition 8000 more trees with the permission of the farm owner. In addition to the coffee trees, we have planted over 200 Inga trees. We are currently in the process of designing a pool for the mill's water run off to go to, to be filtered by plants rather than running straight into the local river. Along the river, we have left space for local fauna and flora to grow without our influence.
Language(s)
Spanish
Water
Natural water filtration for the runoff water of the wet mill.
Food Security/Nutrition
Crop diversity encouraged.
Economic/Sustainable Development
Sustainable incomes for families in the area.
Climate
New trees being planted all throughout the area.
Sustainability
To be able to start the construction of the wet mill, we relied on a Kickstarter to raise funds necessary. The revenues from the coffee sold from this mill will pay to maintain its operation, along with the sale of coffee from the El Fénix farm where the mill is located.
Return on investment
Being a social venture, the capital from this project will be reinvested into the community and cover the costs of operation.
Entrant Image
Entrant Banner Image
Replication and Scale
How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?
This project is replicable. Requirements include a centrally located farm with sufficient space for milling, drying areas, and a quality control lab. Professionals with proper education and training will need to be on hand for purchasing the equipment and materials necessary. Hired professionals are necessary for construction and operation of the wet mill and laboratory. Having a good relationship with any community where a wet mill is to be built is necessary to have before beginning on the project. Making a wet mill is expensive, having a producing farm to ensure cash flow has been extremely helpful for us, as well as the Kickstarter campaign.