Belo Horizonte/Brazil, Jan. 24th, 2011 – Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung (HRNS) discussing with prominent stakeholders about coffee farmers’ perspectives in times of rising world coffee demand

Brazil 2011: the country is leading the worldwide statistics with an annual coffee production of 45 mln bags on average. Yet it is questionable whether this outcome will be able to cover the steadily growing demand for the bean, especially in view of the challenges posed by climate change.

Smallholder coffee farmers have a great potential for improving their production, because –just as in any other coffee producing country- their average outturns tend to be low. By providing training tailor-made for their needs, the project teams support them in raising their productivity and in improving the quality of their coffee. Through the professionalization of farmer organizations, better market access can be achieved and allows farmers to establish direct trade relationships with export companies on the premises.

These contexts were the main topics discussed in the Symposium organized by the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung and the Associação Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung do Brasil, the Brazilian subsidiary of the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung. The Symposium was amongst others attended by the German Ambassador, Wilfried Grolig, the Agricultural Minister of the State of Minas Gerais, Dr. Elmiro Alves do Nascimento, the National Secretary for Production and Agroenergy, Dr. Manoel Vicente Bertone as well as the Director of the Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung, Michael R. Neumann.

The team of “Polo de Excelência do Café” was on the premises; click here for the English version of their commentary and download the letter of Wilfried Gorig here (both in English). This link will guide you to the website of “Polo de Excelência”, where you can find an interview with Michael R. Neumann (in Portuguese):

http://excelenciacafe.simi.org.br/

Other interesting articles on the efforts of HRNS, particularly in view of the Symposium held, can be found at:

http://www.cccmg.com.br/materias.asp?codigo=3745

http://www.ocemg.coop.br/webcoop/admin/BibliotecaDeArquivos/Image.aspx?ImgId=11456&TabId=1

http://www.portaldoagronegocio.com.br/conteudo.php?tit=comercializacao_conjunta_beneficia_produtores_familiares&id=49324

And click here to have a look at more pictures!