A. M. 
Coffee, one of the most important and volatile agricultural commodities, is essential for the livelihoods of 25 million people in Latin America, most of them small-scale farmers. However, they face growing challenges such as deforestation, soil degradation and the impacts of climate change, including unpredictable weather patterns.
To address these challenges, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have announced a strategic partnership. The agreement, presented at the Global Commodity Forum 2024, seeks to improve traceability in the region’s coffee value chains. Traceability systems will allow for greater transparency in the supply chain and highlight producers who grow coffee sustainably.
The implementation of these systems will facilitate the tracking of coffee from farm to cup, promoting environmentally friendly agricultural practices. This will enable consumers to make informed and ethical choices, increasing the demand for responsibly grown coffee. As a result, the economic and environmental sustainability of the coffee industry will be strengthened.
The collaboration between UNCTAD and UNDP will leverage the expertise of both agencies to promote sustainable production practices that protect biodiversity and empower local communities. They will also work with governments, businesses and civil society organizations to ensure equity and safeguard the rights of small farmers, women and indigenous communities.
The first step will be the design of a training project for 2025, focused on three coffee producing countries in the region. This project will seek to prepare coffee growers to meet international standards, facilitate access to global markets and increase the competitiveness of the sector.
The alliance will also explore the development of innovative traceability tools, targeted policy dialogues and data-driven research. All of this aims to close the gap between local coffee growers and international markets, promoting a fairer and more sustainable coffee value chain.
