The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) has launched The State of Sustainable Coffee - Study of 12 major markets . The body believes that the document is an important development in understanding the varied interests of coffee growers, producers and manufacturers.
"We are now witnessing the striking emergence of dynamic markets for differentiated products that are produced and marketed in sustainable ways and can provide even some of the world's poorest farmers with better opportunities," said the ICO's executive director Nésor Osorio.
"Coffee is a leader in these developments and, as arguably the developing world's most important cash crop, is vital to many countries. The markets for fair trade, organic, and eco-friendly products - although not a universal panacea - do benefit farmers of coffee and other agricultural products."
The launch of the new study, which took two yeas to research, marks the 40th anniversary of the International Coffee Organisation. The strategy was researched and written in collaboration with the International Institute for Sustainable Development, UNCTAD, and the World Bank.
"It represents a significant contribution towards understanding the scope and outlook for such products and their role in the future sustainability of an entire industry," said Osorio. "The study collects the efforts of 11 researchers under the guidance of Daniele Giovannucci, its primary author. It represents a groundbreaking and comprehensive approach to the characteristics and trends of these markets that have, until now, not been well understood."
A copy of the executive summary of the book will be available in pdf format on the ICO website. For more information contact info@ico.org