ECOM Agroindustrial INTERNAL AFFAIRS SECOND QUARTER 2021
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ECOM Agroindustrial INTERNAL AFFAIRS SECOND QUARTER 2021
Contents • ECOM’s Climate Pledge • Women Capacity Building and Commitment to Preventing Child Labor • A Better Future • Participation Of ECOM CIV In A Charitable Action For The Benefit Of The Children Of The AIFCI Social Center In Anoumabo. • EcomPrint Project Progress • Connecting with P2P • Cacao Latitudes, New Specialty Cacao Company • Maison Duplanteur Bean to Bar Chocolate & The World’s Best Restaurant • AMSA Inaugurates The Generating Center Of Leaders In Café De México • Analysis: A New Vision for Restoring Warbler Wintering Habitat • ECOM Ghana Goes Green With ‘Green Ghana Day’ • ECOM Always In Advance • ECOM West Africa Values Journey: • How Widespread Employee Engagement Aims to Transform Culture While Building Capacity for Change • Crop Doctor Ghana: Getting All Our Retailers On Board • Congo’s Volcanoes • The Flip Side of the Coin • Learning as our Unique Selling Point (USP) • La Escuelita Niño Heroe Francisco Marquez • In Memoriam • ECOM in the News
“As a family company with a long history, there
is a strong organizational culture of responsibility
ECOM’s Climate Pledge to improving and ensuring sustainability for the
next generation. Becoming a Net Zero company
Letter from ECOM Management is a complex task that requires cooperation and
Today we want to invite you to build a better future with us. collaboration across the industry, and ECOM intends
The Climate Crisis has created systemic problems to the environment and
demands fundamental behavioral change. Companies, individuals, and to lead in this effort.”
communities around the world must align and take a genuine stance to
protect future generations and ensure the preservation of human life on
Earth. ECOM is committed to act accordingly on this path, one that will surely
bring new challenges to the supply chain, production processes, business
and individual practices, which must be tackled with a sense of urgency.
ECOM pledges to have Net Zero emissions in their value chain by 2050 and
sign up to the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). This science-based
target will contribute to the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting the global
temperature rise to 1.5 degrees centigrade by 2050. Our emissions reduction José “Pepe” E. Esteve Alain Poncelet Teddy Esteve
scope includes our direct operations and extends further to the entire supply Chairman of the Board Group Deputy CEO CEO Coffee & Chief Carbon Officer
chain (scope 1, scope 2, and scope 3, according to the Greenhouse Gas
Protocol).
Becoming a Net Zero company is a complex task that requires cooperation
and collaboration across the industry, and ECOM intends to lead in this
effort with experts, suppliers, clients, and various other stakeholders in
our value chain. We will also continue to strengthen our supply chain by
helping the farmers we work with become more resilient to climate change
and the challenges global warming poses. One of our aims is to provide
our customers with lower footprint commodities (CO2eqkg/product) and
eventually deliver carbon neutral commodities.
We are already committed to improving the environment in which we
operate. All members of the value chain share the responsibility to improve
environmental practices and implement greenhouse gas impact reductions,
such as agroforestry, making efficient use of natural resources, proper
recycling and disposal of waste and limiting the excessive use of pesticides
and deforestation.
As a family company with a long history, there is a strong organizational
culture of responsibility to improving and ensuring sustainability for the next
generation. We commit to identifying and allocating the resources needed
to contribute to the global goals for emissions reduction and thereby
regenerate the environment for future generations.
As a leading global commodities merchant and supply chain management
company, we pledge to join the combat against climate
change.
Women Capacity Building and
Commitment to Preventing Child Labor
ECOM in Vietnam has been active in sourcing Arabica and Robusta coffee from ethnic minorities located
in remote villages in the Central Highlands region. Even though there are no incidences of child labor
observed by our field agronomists, or reported in the literature for this specific area, precautionary
measures are needed in times of decreasing coffee prices and living incomes while labor & farming input
costs keep increasing. It generates further reliance on family labor versus hired labor which represents a
We see it as a targeted but impactful investment which
risk for children to attend farms along with their parents rather than attending school, especially when
doesn’t need to be rolled out to our whole supply base. It
school infrastructure is weak. rather be “demand-driven” following assessment of areas
Since 2013, ECOM Vietnam has built one new nursery school every year - with the financial support of where school facilities are absent. For the broader farmer
Costa & ECOM Foundations - among these more vulnerable ethnic groups we source coffee from. In total network, we rely on certification assurance mechanisms
8 schools/kindergarten were built to date with the guarantee from local authorities to invest in human to track child labor via our annual field inspections, farmer
resources / teachers for ensuring proper care of the children. More than 1’500 kids from households, from coaching visits and training programs.
which we source coffee, are now attending these facilities on a daily basis. In connection with equality between men and women for
a deeper integration of the latter in the technical control
of coffee production, post-harvest treatment and decision-
making, this journey starts with the understanding of what
activities are carried on by women and men to further
adjust training materials and sessions. In the early 2010’s,
ECOM partnered with the IFC in Indonesia and Vietnam to
do this assessment
This journey starts with the understanding of what
activities are carried on by women and men to further adjust training materials and sessions. In the early
2010’s, ECOM partnered with the IFC in Indonesia and Vietnam to do this assessment. Click here to learn
more.
In a recent project - the Women Capacity Building (2018-2020) - our sustainability division in Vietnam
received the support of the roaster Strauss to train and equip 300 women Robusta farmers from the K’Ho
ethnic group in Lam Dong province. Intercropping with the planting of 9’000 fruit trees (avocado, durian)
to provide additional on farm income streams ; 6 hulling & grading machines were handed over for the
group leaders to offer an improved and cheaper service to their members as well as compost choppers to
produce organic matter to feed their coffee & fruit trees. Click here to learn more.
Market recognition of women’s involvement in coffee production can be a powerful tool to support
these initiatives and we believe would benefit
from the IWCA label (International Women
Coffee Association) which chapter in Vietnam was
established in 2020/21 with ECOM sponsorship.
We develop market linkage for women farmers
living in Son La province among the Thai & H’mong
communities hoping to sell their coffee with the
IWCA mark through the women cooperative
established by our supplier Detech. In partnership
with CIRAD and a local research institute, women
are trained as nursery skilled staff to propagate
Arabica seedlings (F1 hybrids bred by ECOM-CIRAD)
and are empowered to sell these eventually. Click
here to learn more.
Article By: Laurent Bossolasco
Laurent Bossolasco, Sustainability Manager for ECOM “The sustainability agenda is driven by how profitable
A Better Future Asia, says this focus on Robusta has given Vietnam
a ‘bitter’ reputation which might not hold up to
it can be for farmers and how well it connects them to
exporters.”
scrutiny. An example he gives is the willingness of some
Vietnam has built a reputation as the world’s largest robusta producer, and is now evolv- “When some people think of Vietnam, it’s as a farmers to invest in automated drip irrigation, which
ing by embracing sustainable practices and profitability over productivity supplier of low-quality Robusta, or soluble and instant saves water by allowing it to drip slowly to the roots
coffee. It’s not where people think of for third wave of plants, although an investment barrier makes this
Arabica coffee, but there is an effort to change that unachievable for the majority of producers.
Vo Thien Nghia’s family has been growing coffee in
by promoting higher qualities, even if it’s on a smaller “We had farmers willing to contribute 50 per cent of
the Central Highlands of Vietnam since 1986, planting
scale,” Bossolasco says. the invest, with the other half subsidised, because
the crop because it was a less risky choice than other
What separates Vietnam from other coffee producing they could see that, over time, they could use the
crops. However, with coffee prices remaining low for
countries, according to Bossolasco, is not a focus on equipment and save on labour for irrigation and
several years straight, Vo Thien has had to diversify
Robusta coffee but how farmers have been able to application of fertilisers,” Bossolasco says.
his farm.
maximise their output. SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
“The market price is a challenge. The price has not
“A lot of countries need and have the possibility to Even with a small decline in 2020, Vietnam is still
changed too much, but the labour costs are getting
produce a little more coffee and income per hectare, firmly placed as the second largest coffee producing
higher and higher. If the cost of production is high and
and Vietnam is a good reference point,” he says. country in the world. Vietnamese Ministry of
the market price is unchanging, we must spend less
“But they shouldn’t necessarily adopt all of the Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) statistics
on our families, food, and everything else,” Vo Thien
aspects of production in Vietnam because they come suggest the country has an 18.2 per cent share of the
tells Global Coffee Report.
with different downsides. There’s environmental global coffee market, less than half of Brazil’s 36.8 per
“We have had to begin intercropping. We plant more
pressure, for example, or creating situations where cent, but more than twice the third placed Colombia’s
fruit trees, pepper, and other crops into the coffee Vo Thien Nghia is a coffee farmer in the Central farmers could be more profitable by being less 8.1 per cent.
farm to earn more profit from these other trees. We Highlands of Vietnam.
productive.” With Brazil and Vietnam together producing more
don’t only plant coffee and now earn more from the
With ECOM Agroindustrial Corp, Bossolasco’s focus than half of the world’s coffee, the two countries play
other crops inside the coffee farm.”
We have had to begin in Vietnam is helping coffee producers optimise their a crucial role in the global coffee market. Due to this,
The Central Highlands is home to 94 per cent
coffee production, rather than simply maximising the low commodity prices that coffee farmers have
of Vietnam’s coffee production, according to intercropping. We plant it. This means less use of water, agrochemicals, dealt with over the last few years have sometimes
government figures. more fruit trees, pepper, and and labour per each unit of coffee produced, also been attributed to overproduction form these two
When the French introduced coffee to Vietnam in the
1850s, it was first grown in French-controlled coffee other crops into the coffee improving the sustainability of the coffee. countries.
plantations and focused more on Arabica than the farm to earn more profit from “The end goal is for farmers to be more profitable However, Tran Cong Thang, Vice Chairman of the
instead of just more productive,” Bossolasco says. Vietnam Coffee Coordination Board (VCCB), says this
Robusta coffee Vietnam would become known for. these other trees. We don’t
The Vietnam War would disrupt the nation’s coffee only plant coffee and now
industry over a century later. North Vietnamese
earn more from the other
victory at the Fall of Saigon in 1975 saw, which then
led to the collectivisation of the county’s agriculture, crops inside the coffee farm.
limiting enterprise and lowering production levels. -Vo Thien Nghia
It wasn’t until the Đổi mới economic reforms of
1986, allowing for the private ownership of small
experienced lower rainfall and higher temperatures
enterprises, that Vietnamese coffee production would
than average in 2020. Vo Thien says his local
rise to the levels it sees today.
community lost roughly half of its crop last season to
Coffee is second to rice in terms of value of
poor weather.
agricultural products exported from Vietnam,
“We’ve seen the effects of climate change very clearly
embracing the Robusta species due to the higher
in recent years. The dry season is longer and when it
yields of the cash crop.
rains, it rains a lot. Normally, it only rains about 100
According to the International Coffee Organization,
millilitres, now it’s 200 or 300, which causes erosion
Vietnam produced 29 million 60-kilogram bags of
and damage to the coffee tree,” Vo Thien says.
green coffee in the coffee year 2020-2021, down 4.9
However, he is more positive for the next season.
per cent from 30.5 million bags in 2019-2020.
“Up until now, the weather has looked good, so we
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
expect that the coffee will grow as good as normal.”
Foreign Agricultural Service attributes several factors
to a decline in production and exports. These include
ROBUST PRODUCTION
COVID-19 affecting global trade, Vietnam facing
Over the last 30-plus years, Vietnam has grown to
strong competition from Brazil and other Robusta
become the world’s largest producer of Robusta
producers, and adverse weather conditions.
coffee, with the species making up about 94 per cent
Many of Vietnam’s coffee growing regions
of coffee from the country.
continued...
perception does not necessarily line up with what is
actually happening in Vietnam.
Alliance is one way the VCCB intends to add value and
reassurance to its coffee. Participation Of ECOM CIV In A Charitable
“The booming of coffee in Vietnam occurred from
beginning of 90s to the late 2000s. But in recent
“We want to shape the coffee sector in Vietnam for
a long future, so we’ve been applying sustainable Action For The Benefit Of The Children Of
The AIFCI Social Center In Anoumabo.
years, the coffee output and growing areas in Vietnam practices to overcome the language barriers we face
have not really increased that much. It’s actually quite when dealing with importing countries,” Thang says.
stable, around 600 to 670 thousand ha since 2010,” “We want to make sure the coffee we produce is
Thang says. ‘clean’ so the consumer can trust the coffee.” A Smile for all!
“Rather than increasing quantity or expanding He adds that the VCCB will continue to encourage
production areas, the government of Vietnam has sustainable production and that the Board has set
tried to focus more on growing quality, improving the Vietnam on a good direction for the future. Solidarity, mutual aid and generosity are integral part
processing sector, and encouraging more sustainable “Farmers are also becoming more aware of their input of the spirit of ECOM CIV. Make yourself useful, make
methods of production.” use. They are using things like fertiliser and pesticide a gesture towards the most fragile, give some of your
With the sudden rise of Vietnam’s coffee industry with more respect of sustainability,” he says. time, energy or money, buy an extra gift or an object
since the 1980s, a lack of structure or coordination “We will also look into ways – like farms codes – to that makes sense... it’s easy, and it can mean a lot! In
presented issues ranging from social inequality to improve the traceability of coffee from Vietnam and 2021, more than ever, ECOM CIV wishes to place this
environmental degradation. MARD formed the VCCB add more value to our coffee with more in-depth time of the year under the sign of commitment and
in 2013 to bring together different stakeholders processing with more value added.” sharing both in our communities with our farmers but
from the industry to advance sustainable, large- Even within the country, Thang predicts greater ties also with the charitable movements that work in favor
scale agricultural productivity, quality, and between coffee producers and cafés popping up in of needy, orphaned or sick children in our country
who need help and means to shine joy in the eyes of AIFCI in a few words
competitiveness. cities around the country. Present in Côte d’Ivoire since 1965, the International
“Before the establishment of the VCCB, the “Data we’ve collected from the main cities shows an these children and bring a little happiness to those
who have been harmed by life. Women Association in Côte d’Ivoire (in french AIFCI)
only industry association was VICOFA, which increase in domestic consumption, with more modern works with the poorest populations, particularly
only represented exporters. The VCCB is a good coffee shops opening up,” he says. On June 16, 2021, the Crop Doctor subsidiary of
ECOM CIV participated alongside the International women and children, in the fields of education and
representative of all stakeholders in Vietnam,” Thang “I think domestic consumption has a lot of room to health.
says. grow in the near future. More friendly coffee shops Women Association in Côte d’Ivoire (in french AIFCI),
in a charitable action for the benefit of orphaned and AIFCI currently supports 9 centers for women and
“An issue in Vietnam was that the voice of the will be open in Vietnam and it will attract more people children: schools, orphanages, clinics and social
farmer was not strong. VCCB members include to drink coffee.” needy children of Anoumabo to whom an animation
team and volunteers organize games and creative centres in the Abidjan region.
representatives of farmers, cooperatives, and coffee Instant or soluble coffee production is another way Their mission: to work with the poorest populations,
producing provincial governments so that their voices Vietnam has been able to add value to its coffee workshops followed by a snack. This activity could
be held at the Majestic Cinema Hotel Ivoire where particularly women and children, in the fields
will be heard.” domestically. Coffee giant Trung Nguyên has built of education and health (literacy and training,
Once of the first initiatives of the VCCB, which has an export market of more than 60 countries for its the children watched.... And the activity ended with
a snack to the delight of the children. An envelope as recreational activities for young orphans, assistance
begun to bear fruit, was its support of replanting Vietnam produced and processed instant coffee. with an establishment for the severely disabled,
coffee trees through the Coffee Sustainable Strategy Other enterprises involved in the Vietnamese coffee a contribution to the purchase of transport buses for
the center, T-Shirts and CROP DOCTOR caps were reception and follow-up of young mothers and their
and Coffee Rejuvenation Strategy. industry have also increased their investment in the babies, support for HIV carriers, etc.)
In 2011, World Bank estimated that Vietnam’s coffee country, creating new ways to export coffee. Green distributed to about 55 children.
production would fall by 30 to 40 per cent by the mid- coffee trader Tin Vo Thien Group is one such business, Article By: Marie Mongo
2020s without the large-scale replanting of coffee inaugurating an instant coffee production plant in
trees. However, the long-term investment and short- December 2018.
term reduction of income made it impossible for While the VCCB and large industry stakeholders work
many smallholders. One of the ways VCCB made this to improve the future for coffee in Vietnam, in the
more practical for coffee producers was to facilitate present, Vo Thien says smallholders need to brave
access to finance until the new trees were able to current conditions, with hopes of better weather and
flower. This project led to the rejuvenation of about prices on the horizon.
120,000 hectares worth of coffee farm. “The people and community here think that planting
“The productivity and quality of our coffee trees were coffee and maintaining coffee production is very
starting to fall. Thanks to this program, the farmer important for the future because, even though the
could cut down the old trees and grows new ones, price is low, it provides a basic income for farmers,” Vo
then try to follow sustainable standards with the new Thien says.
crop,” Thang says. “We will continue farming coffee because there’s less
The VCCB has also served as a meeting place for risk and it’s not as difficult to grow compared to other
businesses and the government to discuss new crops. We can only hope that the coffee price will go
policies and innovations to improve the coffee sector. up.”
Greater use of standards and certifications like
VGAP, 4C, Utz, Fair Trade, Organic, and Rainforest
Excerpt from: GCR and ECOM Vietnam
EcomPrint Project Progress Connecting with P2P
As of now, we have concluded our ECOM Cross-Commodity+Manufacturing and Enabling Functions Capa- In June, P2P launched its official website! Its current events, or certain books that relate to
bility Maps, and have started the process of creating a detailed flowchart of each individual process (visual purpose is to serve as a communication hub that the project, as well as sending in suggestions or
reference). We take this opportunity to thank the different teams involved in this process. can be accessed across the world, a center of comments through our suggestion box. Lastly, the
information for P2P participants, and a way to Blog is where all of our communication materials
connect all Ecom employees to the P2P division. are located, with the hopes to inform employees
Our intranet has diverse components such as on what is happening with P2P. Bulletins will be
videos, PowerPoints, infographics, and a two-way sent out every few months to get a broad idea
communication channel throughout its four main of statuses. Articles bring in outside resources
tabs: Homepage, Projects, Collaboration, and Blog. that relate and give more perspective to our P2P
The homepage aims to provide a simple overview projects, and the book trailers provide highlights
of what P2P is, its purpose, and related events, into book recommendations from our leaders in
along with links to the main highlights. “Projects” the division. In the future, we hope to get more
covers our EcomPrint. In this section, you can perspectives from the employees as the project
expect to find the goal of the project, its progress so progresses in interview formats.
far, training sessions that have occurred, material If you have not had the opportunity to see our site,
like the cross-commodity capability map, and a please see the link below. Click, explore, leave any
glossary to expand on IT and PMO terms. Next, we suggestions or start up a discussion! P2P app is also
have the collaboration tab, which focuses on the now available, everything you see on the website
people side of P2P. Meet most of the people in the but on a mobile-friendly platform. Check the
P2P division: The Steering Committee members, website for more information.
those who are part of the Center of Innovation P2P is excited about this new start and wants to
and Excellence, Change Management, Contract thank everyone for all the hard work, interest, and
Management, and IT Control teams. Here, we support we have received to continue our process
have also opened up the opportunity for ECOM to progress!
employees to start up conversations, openly discuss
Article By: Justina Mengelle (CM)
Timeline P2P Website: https://sites.google.com/ecomtrading.com/p2p-ecom/welcome-p2
Cacao Latitudes, New Specialty Cacao Maison Duplanteur Bean to Bar
Company Chocolate & The World’s Best Restaurant
Cacao Latitudes has been the emerging specialty cacao trading brand for ECOM since Since 2017, Dominique Flavio, owner of Maison
2017, and in June of this year the brand officially launched a Belgian company, ready to Duplanteur, has been a proud partner of Cacao
grow the European specialty and craft cacao markets. Latitudes. Together they have used their shared belief
Justine Chesnoy, Europe Sales Manager for in the importance of ethical sourcing, traceability, and
Latitudes, recently traveled to the Dominican flavor to create incredible chocolate.
Republic with TF1, a French television channel, to Both Dominique and Cacao Latitudes were proud to
highlight the work of specialty cacao sorcerer. As discover that their commitment to excellence has led
a leading voice in craft cacao for French Chocolate to high praise and success for a mutual partner and
makers, Justine was interviewed by Marcelle customer.
magazine. When asked, “How do you concretely Each year, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants releases a
help small producers?” Justine responded with warm list of the best restaurants in the world, highlighting
candor, “By buying their production at the right the latest in innovative and delicious cuisine from
price. But also, for those who are just starting out, across the globe. The current #1 restaurant in the
by finding them business opportunities.” Justine and Chuck Zorzal world is Mirazur. Located along the famous Cote d’
Read the full article from Marcell Media Here Azure in Menton, which borders France and Italy,
Mirazur is home to the singularly talented chef,
Cacao Latitudes is focused on bringing exceptional Mauro Colagreco, who has enjoyed a long and fruitful
flavors and exceptional farmers to the craft partnership with Maison Duplanteur.
chocolate makers of Europe and the US. Kate “Mauro Colagreco’s unique cuisine is inspired by the
sea, the mountains and the restaurant’s own gardens,
https://www.theworlds50best.com/
Cavallin, General Manager of Latitudes, spearheaded
the creation of a cacao flavor lab at Mercanta this including Menton’s emblematic citrus fruits,” extols
year; following the coffee leader’s example by The World’s 50 Best in their review of Mirazur. www.cacaolatitudes.com
focusing on flavor, traceability, and fair pricing However, Colagreco also depends on local suppliers,
for farmers. “With our new company in place, like Maison Duplanteur, to provide top quality
we can move forward with the certifications and ingredients to create his incredible cuisine.
internal processes that will ensure leadership in the A commitment to understanding supply chain,
specialty cacao space,” said Cavallin on future plans. Patricio and Kate Cacao Latitudes traceability and rigorous quality management may
not be the sexiest topics to consider, but people like
Article By: Kate Cavallin those at Cacao Latitudes, Maison Duplanteur, and @cacaolatitudes
Mirazur know that careful consideration of these @chocolatmaisonduplanteur
breeds success. As they say, the results speak for @restaurantmirazur
themselves.
Article By: Kate Cavallin
In this regard, Lic. Faus Sotelo, commented: “It is of
utmost importance to create sources of knowledge that
AMSA Inaugurates The Generating seek the common good of the producers as the basis
of the chain, providing the field with skills that serve
Center Of Leaders In Café De México to create sustainable coffee growing and attract
farmers, young people to work in agriculture”
and added that they will continue to support
The space located in Zacapoaxtla, Puebla, will train Productores de Café del Totonacapan. initiatives that support Mexican coffee growers.
the new technical coffee growers specialists, with After the inaugural ribbon cutting, a training course For his part, Lic. René Ávila Nieto, in charge
the aim of achieving sustainable development in all for internal inspectors of sustainable practices of SMS México, asserted that producers who
producing entities. began, with technicians from Chiapas, Veracruz, already collaborate in any of the supply chains
ZACAPOAXTLA, PUE.- Agroindustrias Unidas Oaxaca and Puebla; During the opening tour, model managed by AMSA and who have model plots,
de México (AMSA), through its Sustainable farms and organized producers that participate have the opportunity to participate for free in the
Management Services (SMS) area, opened its in sustainable supply chains and whose practice activities of the CGL Café, as well as nominating
first Generator Center for Leaders in Coffee (CGL has won them long-term sales contracts and fixed young producers to start training processes in it and
Café), with the aim of developing new leaders prices for part of their production were visited. explained the multiple ways in which clients, private
coffee technicians among the new generations of The center will offer face-to-face teaching companies and civil society can join this effort.
technicians, producers and children of producers, techniques, distance training, multimedia materials “Through Intervention Plans based on the crop cycle and
in order, on the one hand, to reduce the problem and mainly practices in model plots, to develop the with a sustainable vision, SMS serves thousands of producers
of lag in the generational change of workers in the knowledge and skills of the students, in order to in Mexico with training, advisory, technical assistance and sustainable
plots and, on the other, to introduce sustainable manage the coffee plantation with a sustainable supplies, among other services. The substantive mission is to contribute to improving the economic,
coffee cultivation practices in all entities aromatic approach and manage the units of family social, environmental and health conditions of coffee growers and their families, ”added Ávila Nieto.
producers in our country. production, in order to obtain better yields. Finally, the act was used to formalize a Memorandum of Understanding between AMSA and CIESTAAM of
The opening of the first CGL Café was led by The CGL Café is available to all those involved in the the Autonomous University of Chapingo, from which it seeks to adopt convergent agendas and facilitate
Lic. Francisco J. Faus Sotelo, Director of Coffee chain of and is supported by the Customer Service processes that allow producers to make knowledge, methodological tools, available to producers. Inputs
Operations at AMSA, who was accompanied at and Monitoring Center (CASC), the SMS University and technological solutions guaranteeing the care of the environment, with emphasis on the sustainable
the formal ceremony by various guests such as learning system, AMSA branches, and the network management of the soil and water resources and also, the need to support the development of capacities
Dr. Vinicio Horacio Santoyo Cortés, CIESTAAM of SMS specialist technicians. which together with and transmission of knowledge among young people in the rural sector is recognized, with a view to
Graduate Coordinator ; Ing. Eleazar Olivas Holguín, model producers and demonstration plots, result fostering a adequate generational change in Mexican coffee growing and to establish an applied research
director of Starbucks Office of Producer Support in the broadest coffee knowledge management agenda, aimed at solving the main problems of the production units.
in Mexico; Eng. Fabiola Santiago Guerra from the platform in Mexico. In addition, there will also be
FIRA Teziutlán Agency; Ing. Luis Escobedo Cantú participation and support from various leading
from Greencorp Biorganiks de México; MC Cesar companies in sustainable technological solutions
Gonzales Monterrubio, from Biofabrica Siglo XXI, as for coffee growing, together with clients, roasters Excerpt from: elmundodelcafe
well as the Ings. Uziel Jiménez and Eduardo García, and educational and research centers specialized in
from Agribest Technologies, and Don. Máximo the aromatic.
Ponce García, representative of the SPR of RL
“Through Intervention Plans
based on the crop cycle and
with a sustainable vision, SMS
serves thousands of producers
in Mexico with training, advisory,
technical assistance and
sustainable supplies, among
other services. The substantive
mission is to contribute to
improving the economic, social,
environmental and health
conditions of coffee growers
and their families, ”
-Ávila Nieto.
Analysis: A New Vision for Restoring Warbler do business; in Colombia, 95% of coffee is produced by
smallholder farms.
Wintering Habitat As an alternative model, pilot regenerative agriculture
projects have been launched to build on the success
of past efforts. These projects create a framework for
Article By: Eric Ponçon and Juan-Diego Román Excerpt from: allaboutbirds.org transitioning farms in deforested areas toward restoring
the functional components of their ecosystems, with the
Recently the United Nations released a progress report on the goals set by almost 200 countries in the Con- costs covered by investors instead of farmers.
vention on Biological Diversity—and the news was not good. In a nutshell, global biodiversity loss is a continu-
ing catastrophe, and deforestation for agriculture is one of the biggest culprits. The La Cumplida coffee farm in Nicaragua is the site of
a pilot project that shows this regenerative agriculture
We write this essay as two executives for multinational as well. In our business, coffee production must be model in action—a blueprint for blended conservation-
corporations in the agricultural commodities sector. You transformed into a biodiversity-plus commodity finance investment that can scale up regenerative
might think we’re part of the problem. But we have a that creates prosperity for local farmers and rural agriculture. As with much of Central America’s
different vision for agriculture, which sees farming as communities. highlands, the Matagalpa region of northern Nicaragua Yellow Warbler in Costa Rica. Photo by
part of a cure, instead of a cause, for biodiversity loss. was deforested in the late 19th century for coffee and Fernando Burgalin Sequeria/Macaulay
Our regenerative agriculture projects on coffee farms in The ideas we write about are not new. Ten years ago, cattle farming. Then American companies moved in Library.
some of the world’s most biodiverse areas are providing an article in the journal Proceedings of the National to develop gold mines. But the La Cumplida coffee lowering the costs of fertilizer and pesticide inputs,
proof that farming can restore biodiversity. And some of Academy of Sciences by University of Michigan farm went a different way in the late 1990s when it broadening the bottom line to include social impacts
the most compelling early results are coming in the form biologists Ivette Perfecto and John Vandermeer was acquired by the late Clément Ponçon, a pioneering and environmental footprint, and compensating for
of warblers and parrots—birds returning to reforested challenged the “assumption that agriculture is the French agronomist. Ponçon developed La Cumplida as lower yields (shade coffee produces 20% less than sun-
coffee farms as symbols of an ecosystem that’s healthy enemy of conservation.” a model of agroforestry, that is, farming in a restored grown coffee) by delivering higher-quality coffee that
for wildlife and people alike. “It is the kind of agriculture, not the simple fact of its forest setting. gets a higher market price.
Our companies are motivated to act in this space, existence, that matters,” they wrote (emphasis added is In 2015, as the Paris Accord was being negotiated, the That last part is where the consumer comes in—the
because the future of coffee is intertwined with healthy ours). Moringa Fund (a European private equity firm that coffee drinker who’s willing to pay a bit more for a cup of
tropical ecosystems. Climate change could reduce the On the one hand, they described a model of industrial invests in sustainable agroforestry) saw an opportunity coffee. Why pay more? Maybe because the coffee tastes
global area suitable for growing coffee by half by the agriculture that relies on low-cost labor to produce to contribute to the global agreement’s goals for better, or because they feel good about drinking coffee
year 2050. In response, many coffee farms are predicted mass food quantities at a high profit for the parent conserving forests as reservoirs for greenhouse gases. that supports reforestation instead of deforestation.
to move upslope into newly suitable microclimates company. There is collateral damage in this model, Moringa scaled up La Cumplida by investing about Regardless, the consumer needs to know why this coffee
higher up in mountain tropical forests, which are also negative externalities in business-speak—costs to $4,000 per hectare to restore shade-grown coffee on is a better choice. That’s a common theme throughout
some of the world’s last strongholds for intact tropical local environments and communities caused by the nearly 2,500 hectares of neighboring coffee farms the regenerative agriculture model: From investors
forests and biodiversity. Another forecast predicts coffee producer, but not compensated for. Deforestation—and that had been devastated by drought and coffee-rust who bankroll a farm’s transition costs to the farmers
as an agricultural product could be extinct in Nicaragua the resulting flooding, mud slides, and pollution—are disease. The program introduced new shade-coffee who take a risk by adopting a new model for growing
by 2050, which would be devastating in a country where negative externalities. So are the climate impacts of varieties that can thrive in a 21st-century climate and coffee, to the wholesale purchasers, retailers, and
coffee is the most important export crop. removing forests as carbon sinks. trained farm workers in methods that reduce the use of end-consumers—everybody in the supply chain needs
Nicaragua presents the even steeper challenges that Over the past 20 years, there has been a lot of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to shrink the farm’s transparency about why this is a better way to produce
lie within the details of stopping biodiversity loss in good work to mitigate these farming externalities. environmental footprint. Moringa also developed a coffee.
the tropics—namely, that the places with the biggest Certifications (such as the Rainforest Alliance’s tree complementary income stream for the coffee farms
biodiversity conservation potential also happen to be frog sticker on bananas or coffee) raised the visibility from Rainforest Alliance–certified timber sales, as some Science is key to transparency in the regenerative
rural farming areas where people are vulnerable to of sustainable food production for business and of the shade trees (such as mahogany and walnut) can agriculture projects we are rolling out at coffee farms in
climate change disasters, political difficulties, social consumers. But the costs of planting shade-grown tree be sustainably harvested and marketed as FSC-certified Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Colombia that are enrolled in
unrest, and poverty. cover can make sustainability certification unattainable wood. Some of the timber was also used to build homes the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality program. That’s
And so solutions that improve the prospects for for most small coffee farms. And small farms make up and schools in the community, thereby enhancing the why we’re partnering with academia, using science
biodiversity must improve the prospects for people the bulk of coffee production in the countries where we socioeconomic security of the farm workers and their to provide transparency that shows our programs are
families. making progress toward their goals. To tell the truth,
With commercial support for purchasing the coffee as businessmen it’s intimidating to invite a bunch of
from Ecom and several coffee companies (including PhDs onto these coffee farms to poke around and tell us
Nespresso, Costa Coffee, Nordquist, and Peerless what we’re doing wrong. But to do it right, regenerative
Coffee), the La Cumplida project has transformed this agriculture requires standardized, measurable metrics.
region in the mountains of Matagalpa. As the investors, Because restoring coffee farms begins with addressing
Moringa and its partners receive the rights to the the needs of the families living on those farms, we
proceeds of the coffee crops for a period of five years— partnered with the Instituto Centroamericano de
after that, participating farmers receive the full benefits Administracion de Empresas in Costa Rica (INCAE,
of the restoration, with the farms’ best coffee-growing one of Latin America’s top business schools) to apply
years ahead. the Social Progress Index. According to INCAE, it’s an
The story of La Cumplida demonstrates a regenerative- index that measures “the capacity of a society to meet
agriculture strategy that makes long-term investments, the basic human needs of its citizens … and create the
balances trade-offs, and accounts for externalities— conditions for all individuals to reach their full potential.”continued...
Toucans. Because birds are a highly reliable indicator of
environmental health, our bird counts provide a reliable
tool for quantifying biodiversity. To put it simply, if the
birds are doing well on our coffee farms, we know that
populations of other animals are likely to be doing well,
that the water is clean, and that the soil and forest are
healthy.
Whether it’s the higher scores for human wellness in
our Social Progress Index, or the higher frequency of
Baltimore Oriole sightings that inform our Biodiversity
Progress Index, these hard data provide transparency
and tell the entire supply chain that these farms are
indeed supplying a better cup of coff ee—better for
Two endangered Yellow-eared Parrots in Colombia. The people and better for the planet. And metrics are key
to convincing big capital finance firms to invest in
ECOM Ghana Goes Green With ‘Green Ghana
cavity (reinforced against nest predators) is in a wax
palm—a tree that provides critical nesting habitat for regenerative agriculture.
these birds. Photo by Carl Giometti/Macaulay Library. Sustainable investment funding is a growth sector for
capital allocation. According to a recent special issue of
the journal Issues in Ecology dedicated to conservation
Day’
Used to survey the people living on coffee farms
and in the surrounding rural communities where finance, sustainable investing grew 33% from 2014 to
2016 to about $9 trillion of all professionally managed There is a popular saying that “When the last tree dies the last man dies.” Indeed many countries are
our companies do business, the index measures
assets. But it needs to grow more, because we’re in a considering the impact of Global warming on the environment and driving initiatives to reduce the
existing barriers and guides our progress in improving
race against climate change to save coffee as a crop and negative impact of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. ‘Green Ghana Day’ was a
livelihoods, which also benefits biodiversity—because
when people feel safe and empowered to improve their a way of life for family farms in Latin America. government-led initiative to plant 5 million trees in Ghana, and was viewed as a unique opportunity to
lives, they are far less likely to engage in activities that Along the way, we think regenerative agriculture can enhance the future for the next generations because trees are critical to humanity’s survival.
degrade ecosystems. help stem the global loss of biodiversity, because of The main objective was to restore depleted forest cover ravaged by negative human activities such as
Preliminary results on our Social Progress Index ratings stories like this: Last year at a coffee farm in our project
illegal mining and lumbering. According to reports by the Forestry Commission of Ghana, the forest cover
for families living on our supplier coffee farms in area in Colombia, a birder conducting a survey for the
Biodiversity Progress Index heard a raucous flock of
stands at 1.6 million hectares from 8.2 million hectares, witnessed in the 1900s. Thereby, highlighting the
Colombia indicate that they have better nutrition and need to preserve the ecosystem and aid the fight against the effects of climate change.
medical care, better access to education (with 100% parrots swooping overhead. The flock settling into the
of family members completing primary and secondary trees in a patch of forest turned out to be 15 Yellow- As a leading agro-industrial company in Ghana, with a mantra of creating rural prosperity, we continue
schooling), lower incidences of violence against eared Parrots, an endangered species found only in to support policies and programs that restore and conserve our forests, crops, water bodies and the total
women, and better access to drinking water than Colombia. Our regenerative-agriculture plan for this livelihood of our last mile clients and stakeholders.
other households in the region. There are areas where farm includes an aggressive tree-planting initiative for
wax palms—which are critical nesting habitat for Yellow- In view of this, Ecom Ghana participated in the tree planting exercise on June 11, 2021 to plant 1000
improvement is needed, for sure, but by measuring
eared Parrots. mahogany trees at Antoakrom, a suburb in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
these indices we can see precisely where and how our
companies can best contribute to improving the lives of The birder who discovered the parrots on the coffee This exercise was fully participated by both our office and field based workers as they geared up ready to
people in coffee-growing regions. farm, José Castaño, is a local biologist who has been make Ghana Green!
To look at our impact on biodiversity, we are working studying the species and championing its conservation
in Colombia for the past 20 years. Speaking at the event, Akwasi Adom Dankwa, Regional Manager and Chairman of the staff engagement
with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and scientists at committee, emphasized the need for all staff, groups or individuals to make a conscious effort to brighten
the University of Antioquia (Colombia) and University “The parrot was here before the Spanish came,” says
Castaño. “For me, this is the best program for [the the little corner where we find ourselves so that collectively, we all live a day brighter and greener than
of Costa Rica to develop a Biodiversity Progress Index
that measures our progress in restoring ecosystems. parrot’s] future. Nespresso has the tools and the impact the day before.
Our regenerative agriculture projects have provided in international markets to promote conservation coffee
incentives for coffee farms to retain their existing forests focused on the parrot.
and plant new trees to restore canopy cover. Of course, “And the Yellow-eared Parrot is an umbrella species. If
biodiversity is harder to survey than social progress, the parrot is safe, we know that many other species are
since forests don’t respond to survey questions. But we safe as well.”
found one very energetic survey subject—birds.
Bird counts on our coffee farms in Costa Rica found 220 Eric Ponçon (Cornell Agricultural Economics and Finance ’96)
species, and in Colombia found 210 species. Preliminary is the Central America regional director for the Coffee Division
scientific research on these farms indicates that many of Ecom Agroindustrial Corporation. Mr. Ponçon is an Aspen
of these bird species are responding to the availability Leadership Institute Fellow and recipient of the Sustainable
of above-ground biomass (tree cover). Included in Standard Setter Award by the Rainforest Alliance. Juan Diego
those counts are some amazing birds, from seasonal Román is an agronomist and green coffee project manager for
migrants such as Yellow and Cerulean Warblers that Nespresso in Costa Rica. Mr. Román works with farmers and
come here from Canada and the U.S.A. to tropical suppliers for Nespresso’s AAA Sustainable Quality Program
species such as Long-tailed Manakins and Keel-billed throughout Central America.ECOM Always In Advance Since its creation, in each commodity where the Ministry of Agriculture decided to evaluate our ECOM is an actor, our goal has always been to help engine in cocoa and rubber tree areas from May farmers to improve their way of life with a “win- 25th to 28th in Touih (South West of IVC) and Daloa win” partnership. (West of IVC). Trials have been done by farmers A good cooperation between the Cotton and the which discovered the engine for the 1st time and Cocoa Department at the service of farmers has results were really amazing on how farmers easily been in place in Ivory Coast for about 2 years. handled and liked the machine. Farmers were really The cotton department opened the doors of their happy to see this machine which can ease their job suppliers to Crop Doctor (a chemical products in the farms, especially women who commented company operating under the umbrella of the “We will not wait anymore for men to help us clean Friday 20th June, was another occasion to demonstrate how important this topic is during the Opening Cocoa department). our farms”. “Having this machine means no more of an agricultural school in Raviart (located in the center of IVC in Didievi) financed by E-U, African We moved forward with the project “MicroMec’’ weed killers on my farm....” The final report of bank of Development....with the President of the Senate, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of which means micro mechanization of small evaluation is not released yet but from the draft, we Budget, the Representant of European Union. ECOM CIV’ Country Manager (Julien Marboeuf) and farms. The idea comes from the remarks that less can say that using “sharp-sharp” is cheaper, better Cotton representative ECOM in CIV (Paul-Henri Ahoussou) have been there to continue discussion with developed countries from South-America like for the health of farmers and easier for their job authorities in order to promote this new way of life for farmers. We also offered one machine to this Brazil became developed countries thanks to the than machete. agricultural school because they will be our ambassador for this new challenge. Minds must be changed, mechanization of their agriculture. Crop doctor Mechanization at farms level is a good mean the students are key stakeholders in this process, and they are also the ones which work closely with introduced the idea in Ghana and succeeded a to fight against serious problems in agriculture farmers all around the country because this school is part of the network of state-owned agricultural good collaboration with Cocobod (Ghana govt for centuries in general and especially in cocoa, schools of the country. Our staff took the opportunity to train the students on how to use the machine and organization in charge of cocoa.) like child labor, women empowerment, usage of they were really happy to see theory turn into reality. The business decided to promote the idea to the chemical products, hardship of agricultural work Our business is closely linked to the wellbeing of farmers, without producers no more soft commodities Ministry of Agriculture in Ivory Coast with our and incentive for young to work in the farms and we expect that our voice will sound loudly for the sustainability of the future of our business. machine “sharp-Sharp’’ which can replace the instead of take a boat to Europe in the hope to have machete mainly used by our farmers. People from a better life. Article By: Paul Henri AHOUSSOU
ECOM West Africa Values Journey: The participation of a large number of staff is required to embed these values.
But how can we promote and embed these values, as well as ensure lasting cultural change?
How Widespread Employee Engagement According to a recent McKinsey publication (March 2021), 25% employee workforce engagement is the
“tipping point” for meaningful and sustainable change. Capacity building for transformation must be
Aims to Transform Culture While Building ongoing, scalable, and multifaceted. This is especially difficult in the ECOM West Africa context, where
two-thirds of our direct staff are field-based and/or highly mobile, with intermittent internet access. So,
Capacity for Change what are some of the strategies we’ve used to engage our diverse and dispersed staff base?
1. Strong leadership for change -The Ghana Steering Committee has taken the lead in this culture
change programme. Muhammadu Muzzammil, Ghana’s Country Head, officially launched the campaign
Why work on ECOM WAF’s culture? with a series of virtual town halls encompassing all business departments. Business heads have spear-
ECOM West Africa is a rapidly transforming ECOM business. We are shifting with the times. We are headed the engagement of their staff in value discussions (some reflecting on so-called ‘Values Moments’)
diversifying our business streams to meet the shrinking margins for cocoa in the region. We are developing and have been the first to take up digital learning activities.
new products and services for our extensive consumer base of smallholder farmers and their communities. 2. Broad workforce engagement - According to the same McKinsey article, ‘even when propelled
We diversified our business from predominantly the first mile to more and more of the last mile. Our by top-level buy-in, capability building still needs to be scaled well beyond a few rounds with a chosen
mission is to create rural prosperity with profitable first and last mile business models. few because employees who aren’t included in a transformation feel disengaged, disconnected, and left
Business transformation must be supported by steady people and cultural transformation. Our people behind. Anything less than broad engagement defeats the purpose.’ We have therefore engaged a team of
must adapt to changing business requirements, which necessitates skill alignment and a shift in mindset. Values Champions representing all levels and business areas to input their ideas into the development of
Not only do we need to make seismic transformations in terms of capability, but also in terms of culture. learning, communication and engagement activities, provide key user support for value training and act as
Our values: the 7 Behaviours of Highly Valued People key influencers to spread the ECOM way.
In order to foster this culture, the 7 Behaviours of Highly Valued People were launched in Ghana in March 3. Blended learning: Designing innovative learning that is a blend of synchronous and asynchronous,
2021. The 7 Behaviours encapsulate the positive, safe, and cohesive culture that ECOM strives for. These face-to-face and virtual, visual and audio-based, has been critical to meeting the demands of our diverse
core values, when combined with a spirit of innovation, empowerment, and efficiency, will help to build learners and embedding the 7 behaviours. ECOM West Africa University, our learning and development
the trust and co-ownership required in a rapidly changing work environment to achieve ambitious goals. hub, began by creating a snappy whiteboard video to introduce the campaign (https://youtu.be/
z5Qu61dUoc8) that was played across all communication platforms, including TV screens at key vantage
points in our Accra and Kumasi offices. We have since launched the first module in our digital learning
campaign, ‘Give Respect, Get Respect,’ a narrative-based e-learning in which learners follow fictional
ECOM employees through a series of scenarios illustrating good and bad examples of respect. The next
edition, an audio-based narrative on ‘Communicating Positively and Professionally,’ was released in
the last week of June. Digital learning has also been supported by face-to-face business-level learning
where departments come together to work through our values in an experiential way, using team-based
examples.continued...
Crop Doctor Ghana: Getting All
4. Creative engagement activities: In addition
to blended learning programmes, we have engaged
Our Retailers On Board
our staff with exciting, interactive activities such as
competitions and ‘Rock your Values T-shirt Days’.
Our first virtual inter-departmental debate on the Crop Doctor Ghana Limited (CDGL) is constantly Business Head for
topic ‘Raising your voice gets the job done’ was exploring ways to strengthen its products and brand Crop Doctor, Sudhir
attended by close to 100 employees and sparked a in the agricultural sector, in order to ensure that Kumar highlights that
lot of discussion and reflection on our values, which all business initiatives resonate with the Ghanaian ‘‘Crop Doctor believes
emphasize communication. consumer. We are dedicated to providing quality in getting closer to
On May 21, World Day for Cultural Diversity for products at reasonable prices to Ghanaian farmers clients in order to
Dialogue and Development, we at ECOM Ghana and working with over 50,000 farmers to conduct provide better service.
saw it as an opportunity to capitalize on one of our research and develop agricultural innovations that will We have worked hard to educate our farmers about
upcoming core values of ‘embracing diversity,’ which lead to rural prosperity in farming communities. Our our products and services, as well as best agricultural
we hope to implement later this year. As part of the belief in making significant inroads into Ghana’s agro- practices, in order to boost farm production and
engagement activities for the day, staff members wore different attires representing various nationalities input industry originates from our value proposition income, and bring prosperity to rural communities.
and cultures. There was a display of different local and international cuisines to signify our diversity in of building strong relationships with major key Retailers, shop attendants, and agricultural extension
nationality, experience, thoughts, and gender. Esi Enninful, HR Business Partner, stated at the event that stakeholders. officials are not only vital stakeholders in the value
we work in a multinational environment with cross-cultural reporting and operational lines. As a result, we In the previous edition, we emphasized that our road chain, but also key influencers; therefore we must
must respect one another’s opinions and appreciate the differences that make us unique. map for this year is to maintain the engagement actively engage them to raise product awareness.
5. Regular internal communication: Keeping momentum throughout the year, which led us to We have planned an intensive campaign during the
the values’ conversation going has been aided by embark on a series of engagement and training quarter to reach out to and educate Retailers, store
visual aids such as posters, weekly newsletters, and activities with our key stakeholders. This drive is attendants, and Agricultural extension officials about
to ensure they are well informed of our product our products and services in order to increase product
internal Field Diaries features on values stories and
portfolio, upcoming initiatives, and opportunities patronage.’’
tips. Our HR Business Partners are collaborating with
available to them to expand their business whilst We believe that retailers play a significant role in the
their respective businesses to ensure that values
maximizing profits. agrochemical supply chain since they serve as the
conversations are included in regular team meetings
This quarter, we are embarking on a nationwide link between input suppliers and end-users and have
and communication. retailer engagement in which we are walking our a huge influence on farmers’ product choices. As a
Conclusion: We develop our capacity for change. retailers and store attendants through our product result, Crop Doctor is committed to building a well-
Whilst building a renewed culture, we will develop portfolio (chemicals, seeds, fertilizer, equipment, etc.) informed market niche for our products and serving
our people’s capacity to change. Values discussions The goal is to increase product knowledge among our our market with a diverse product mix that matches
and training will assist people in developing a key partners, who are at the forefront of agro-input end-user needs.
working and team culture that they want to be a part sales, so that they can introduce these products to So far, 25 district-level farmer training and
of. It will give them a safe space to get the best out our farmers and other end users as they interact with engagement initiatives have been effectively
of themselves, whilst also improving their business. them more frequently. implemented. At the end of this exercise, Crop Doctor
We believe in the Return On Investment (ROI) of our Values Journey! The map below depicts the routes/regions of all the is confident that once retailers and end-users are
We continue to work on our Values Journey in Ghana and are ready for the next stops: our Ivory Coast and engagement sessions we have had so far. familiar with the products, it will lead to full utilization
Nigeria businesses. As an ever-growing agro-business, we have extended and the best results obtained from Crop Doctor
our product line to include vegetable seeds and products.
fertilizers.
Article By: Anna Y. A. Ademadjiku
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