Nespresso and Starbucks are among the founders of a multi-million-dollar initiative to revitalise Puerto Rico’s coffee sector, a year after Hurricanes Irma and Maria destroyed an estimated 80% of coffee trees on the island.
The five-year initiative is coordinated by non-governmental organisation The Hispanic Federation and is supported by playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The Hispanic Federation has made the first investment of $1 million. Nespresso has also committed $1 million, and The Rockefeller Foundation has given $500,000. The Starbucks Foundation has given $470,000, and Starbucks also donated 2 million climate-resilient coffee seeds.
This initiative evolved out of a task force that was formed after Hurricane Maria, and currently includes The Hispanic Federation, Starbucks, World Coffee Research, farmers, academics and other public and private partners, seeking to revitalise Puerto Rico’s coffee sector.
In 2017, the island’s coffee industry was on track to be worth up to $100 million. With nearly 80% of the coffee harvest and trees destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the sector faces dire and immediate challenges, according to The Hispanic Federation.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, said: “I’m thrilled that my family, with the Hispanic Federation, have been able to help create such an important initiative that supports small farmers across the island.”
Hispanic Federation president José Calderón said: “Since September 2017, the Hispanic Federation, and the Miranda family, have been on the ground in Puerto Rico listening to the needs of communities, raising funds, and bringing together multi-sector organisations committed to a long-term recovery led by Puerto Ricans.”
The initiative aims to increase the long-term resilience and economic performance of the sector by bringing together a holistic support model. This model includes: diversifying and improving the quality of coffee seed material on the island, rebuilding capacity in nurseries, bringing training and best-in-field climate-smart agronomic and business practices to small farmers to elevate the production and quality of the sector, and establishing a network and market opportunities for farmers.
Nespresso USA CEO Guillaume Le Cunff said: “By investing in this long-term initiative, we aim to help Puerto Rico’s farmers rebuild their farms and strengthen their industry.
“Nespresso has spent decades working directly with farmers to revive and build sustainable coffee sectors in regions around the world, and we have seen first-hand the transformative power coffee can have on improving farmer livelihoods, fostering economic development and ultimately rebuilding communities.”
Michelle Burns, Starbucks senior vice president of global tea and coffee, added: “Starbucks is proud to continue supporting the long-term health of coffee farms in Puerto Rico.
“The rebuilding of the Puerto Rico coffee industry is in the early stages and we are extremely grateful for the contributions from the Hispanic Federation, Nespresso, as well as the ongoing work of the Puerto Rico coffee task force partners.”
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