20 Years ICP: About the Relevance of Collaboration in the Coffee Sector

Within ICP we work together with like-minded, family-owned coffee companies in order to improve the livelihood and development possibilities for small-scale coffee farmers around the world. Over the past 20 years we have shown the strength of joining forces, and that our holistic approach to empower farmers creates long-lasting results. As more people see a positive future in coffee, we are more likely to enjoy yet another hundred years as a coffee roaster.

Lavazza is a founding member of ICP and since 2001 has been actively helping farmers and encouraging best agricultural practices among smallholder coffee growers. The innovative ICP approach, based on transparency, long term commitment and proactive dialogue all along the coffee supply chain, has led to significant improvements and made ICP a role model for the sector. While celebrating our first 20 years of positive collaboration, we aim to continue in this direction and help today’s farmers face the challenges of climate change, youth engagement and family business and to foster social, economic and environmental development, by protecting biodiversity and enhancing quality.

We are proud to be a founding member of the International Coffee Partners. Especially when looking at our joint achievements, benefiting 90.000 farmer families: Strengthening coffee farming communities, supporting the transition to more sustainable agriculture practices and supporting women’s empowerment in 13 production countries. The cooperation through ICP illustrates that profound change can succeed if we work on joint solutions beyond competition and engage in a respectful dialogue with farmers. This type of collaboration is unique in the coffee industry and can serve as a model for other areas and projects

We are very proud to be a part of the ICP family. This project shares our family’s values and cares for society with great respect to the safekeeping of coffee and its culture. For decades, Delta has invested in many socially responsible projects, whether in Portugal or other international territories. We are committed to the progress of our industry, as well as the well-being of society. With ICP, Delta Cafés joins other important family-owned coffee companies to work together with the families of producers who bring coffee to our tables every day. We are grateful to be a part of this dynamic group and integrate the portfolio of successful projects worldwide.

African proverb says: “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.” This proverb has come to life in the work of International Coffee Partners over the last 20 years where we have shown what a difference collaboration and true values based partnership can make when tackling the big challenges of our time from climate change to making a decent living for your family. This power of people coming together is nowhere more visible than in the ICP work around the world where smallholder coffee farmers have with the support of ICP and their own enterprise created a brighter future for their communities.

With the goal of actively contributing to sustainability of the global coffee market, supporting smallholder coffee growers and further development of coffee culture, Franck is honored to take part in joint efforts of ICP members. The results of these efforts and positive impact in terms of sustainable agricultural practices being implemented, as well as empowering smallholder coffee farming families is encouraging and crucial in ensuring a sustainable coffee sector. This drives us in our commitment to ICP values that are implemented in every aspect of its work. We are guided in our business by the principles of responsibility and sustainability and have always nurtured this approach inspiring us to think innovatively and constantly strive for the most effective sustainable solutions.