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C

Countries that
produce coffee have

long faced obstacles

that were worsened

by the pandemic.

Coffee and community live- be hard for farmers to switch to other
lihood crops because coffee trees require large
and long-term investments on the land.
The coffee industry provides jobs Production costs have steadily increased
for over 125 million people around the in recent years while institutional sup-
world, including employing people on port for farmers and workers has deplet-
12.5 million farms, up to 80 percent of ed. As in the case of national investment
which are primarily in developing coun- for agricultural development, the fund-
tries. The income is critical to many ing has always been low or has declined.
families, communities, and govern- Such changes in production, on top of
ments. Yet countries that produce coffee shifts in consumer habits both due to
have long faced obstacles that were COVID-19 and despite of it, will not
worsened by the pandemic. These in- only devoid billions of coffee drinkers
clude health risks due to disease out- of their daily fix, but it could also en-
breaks, harsh labor conditions, pests and danger the source of income for millions
infestations, and gender discrimination of families around the world.
on top of wage or hour violations. Such The coffee industry desperately
regions have also seen growing opera- needs change. How can today’s brands
tional concerns such as lack of incentive step up to respond in a purposeful and
for modernization, inadequate training, authentic way?
and seasonal labor shortages. The coffee With the establishment of the
industry has historically been set up 2030 Agenda and the United Nations
with systemic flaws that destabilize the Sustainable Development Goals, com-
livelihood of smallholders: while farm panies all over the world have shaken
prices fluctuate in international markets, up their business plans to reassess their
supply is generally dominated by a few impact through 17 critical universal UNITED NATIONS SDGS
producing countries. Moreover, coffee pillars. Here’s how 3 major coffee
creates export dependency for its pro- brands stepped up their corporate social In 2015, world leaders decided on a series of global goals that
ducers with only 30 percent of all coffee responsibilities to meet the urgent calls will act as “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable
sold within producing countries. It can of our generation. future for all” with a deadline year of 2030 that became the
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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