Welcome to the I Fairtrade Coffee Forum, an event organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Fair Trade Small Producers and Workers (CLAC) , the network than represents nearly 1,000 Fairtrade organizations ands around 500,000 producers and workers in Latin America and the Caribbeas. CLAC works tirelessly to empower small producers and workers, promoting a fairer, sustanaible and inclusive trade model.
What is the Fairtrade Forum?
The 1st Fairtrade Coffee Forum, under the slogan “Bringing coffee to life”, seeks to make visible the stories, challenges and solutions of the people behind each cup of Fairtrade coffee. It is a space to connect all the actors in the value chain and promote practices that not only guarantee a fairer trade, but also the dignity, sustainability and well-being of those who make this coffee possible.
📅 Location: Antigua Guatemala – Guatemala
📅 Dates: May 14 – 15, 2025
THE FORUM IS DIRECTED TO:
-Producers and Representatives of certified cooperatives and producer organizations.
-Buyers, importers, traders and retailers of sustainable coffee.
-Roaster
-NGOs, academics and other key actors in the sector.
-Consumers and promoters of quality products with social impact.
WHY PARTICIPATE ?
✅Connect with key players: Producers, exporters, buyers and experts.
✅ Learn from global leaders: Panels on the main topics of the sustainable coffee value chain.
✅ Discover stories of transformation: Sustainability and equity that impact communities.
✅Live a sensory experience: Exclusive Fairtrade coffee tastings.
TICKETS
Take advantage of the Pre-Sale rates until April 15, 2025!
| Participation | CLAC members and Fairtrade | External |
| Tickets | USD 300 (Pre-sale USD 250) | USD 350 (Pre-sale -USD 300) |
Lunches, coffee breaks and a cocktail party.
Explore the key themes that will guide discussions during the forum.
FAIR TRADE AND SUSTAINABILITY IN COFFEE GROWING
OVERVIEW OF COFFEE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION. Analysis of the current coffee market, including consumption, production and challenges.
ROUND TABLE: THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN COFFEE GROWING. Discussion on sustainable practices, challenges and opportunities for the coffee sector.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAIRTRADE COFFEE IN NEW MARKETS. Exploration of new markets and strategies for Fairtrade coffee.
TOOLS FOR SMALL PRODUCER ORGANIZATIONS TO MANAGE MARKET RISK. Strategies for producer organizations to manage market fluctuations.
COFFEE QUALITY AND FUTURE
QUALITY AND DIRECT TRADE ALLIED TO FAIRTRADE. The importance of quality and direct relations between producers and buyers.
ROBUSTA AND THE FUTURE OF QUALITY. The future of Robusta coffee and its role in the market.
AWARDING OF THE BEST FAIRTRADE GOLDEN CUP COFFEES.
Award Ceremony of the best Fairtrade coffees of the Golden Cup Central America and Mexico. Announcement of the best Fairtrade coffees from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Welcome cocktail
LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND BEST PRACTICES
UPDATE ON NEW LEGISLATION AND ITS IMPACT ON FAIRTRADE COFFEE PRODUCTION. Update on regulations and their impact on Fairtrade coffee production.
ROUND TABLE WITH EXPERTS IN LEGISLATION AND CERTIFICATION. To discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by the current legal framework, as well as to exchange experiences and perspectives on how these regulations impact the production and marketing of Fairtrade coffee.
UPDATE ON THE NEW EU ORGANIC LEGISLATION AND ITS IMPACT ON FAIRTRADE COFFEE PRODUCTION. The new EU organic legislation and its direct implications for Fairtrade coffee producers.
SUCCESS STORIES OF COOPERATIVES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF COFFEE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING. Presentations of successful cooperatives in the management of production and marketing.
EMPOWERMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND LEADERSHIP IN COOPERATIVES. ACTIVITIES TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE INCORPORATION OF NEW GENERATIONS. Strategies to promote women’s participation and generational replacement.
IMPLEMENTATION OF DECENT INCOME. Implementation of practices to ensure a decent income for producers.
PANEL: ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION. Adaptation to climate change and environmental conservation in coffee growing.
Note: Sessions can be adjusted according to participant availability and objectives, in order to involve key experts, producers and organizations to generate actionable discussions.
Albert Scalla is the Senior Vice President of Trading at StoneX Group, a global financial firm specializing in commodity trading. With extensive experience in diverse markets, he has combined his in-depth knowledge to deliver effective risk management and trading strategies.
Miguel Reguera is the General Manager of Volcafé Peru. Prior to his current position, Miguel served as Senior Green Coffee Buyer at UCC Coffee, one of the world’s largest coffee roasters. With over 20 years of experience in commodities trading, especially in the coffee industry, he has developed a particular interest in sourcing ethical and quality coffee that supports producers and promotes global sustainability and conservation initiatives.
His professional background includes a license as a Kaufmann in Hamburg, Germany, and extensive experience in coffee origin countries, where he has worked directly in the supply chain to ensure fair and sustainable trade practices.
Frederic Baron is a forest engineer specialized in tropical ecosystem management that have more than 10 years of experience working on deforestation-free value chain and sustainable land use he joined the European Forest Institute (EFI) in 2017. He’s currently overseeing the support for deforestation-free coffee value chain in several countries in Latin America and Africa.
Vanusia Nogueira is the Executive Director of the International Coffee Organization since May 2022, being the first woman to occupy this position.
Hernan Manson manages the Inclusive Agribusiness programme of the International Trade Centre, a joint agency of the United Nations and World Trade Organization. ITC focuses on Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs); policymakers and business support organizations to promote competitiveness and trade for good.
Ana Maria Fasen is the Senior Supply Chain Manager for Fairtrade Germany, where she plays a crucial role in the management and monitoring of coffee supply chains. Her work focuses on ensuring fair and sustainable trading practices, strengthening the relationship between producers and the German market.
With over 32 years of experience in the coffee industry, Yoshinori Uda has held various roles including coffee roaster, system developer, product developer, marketing and PR strategist, and sales executive. He currently oversees the overall direction and management of the Ogawa Coffee Group, serving also as Executive Producer of Store Development, Coffee Buyer, and Barista Trainer. He served as a board member of the Japan Organic Natural Food Association (JONA) for 16 years, actively promoting the spread of organic food. As a member of the regulatory committee of the Fair-Trade Coffee Council, he has contributed his expertise in drafting and establishing fair competition codes and enforcement regulations.
Mareike Leibrandt is the Marketing Manager “Café Intención” for J.J. Darboven GmbH & Co. KG. She studied in Bremen and Lüneburg, has served as Deputy Brand Manager “NIVEA” and as Brand Manager at Tchibo GmbH “Tchibo Coffee”.
He is a rural producer, President of Cafesul – Cooperative of Coffee Growers of the South of the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Member of the CLAC Council and representative of Brazil in the CLAC Coffee Network.
Renato has a track record of 22 years working in the cooperative sector and 17 years with Fairtrade certification.
In the cooperative, he has been developing a conilon coffee quality project since 2010, with important national awards for its cooperative members. Cafesul was the first conilon coffee cooperative in the country to obtain the endorsement to export its product to the United States, Europe and Canada.
Merling Preza is a prominent leader in the global coffee industry, recognized for her dedication to fair trade and the empowerment of small producers. Born in Nicaragua, she is the general manager of PRODECOOP, a cooperative center that brings together 38 grassroots cooperatives and more than 2,600 coffee-growing families in the departments of Madriz, Estelí and Nueva Segovia. Since its founding in 1993, PRODECOOP has worked to improve the living conditions of its members through the direct and fair commercialization of coffee.
Silvia Carolina Herrera Hernández is a prominent Mexican coffee grower and entrepreneur, recognized for her leadership in the production of specialty coffee in Chiapas. From an early age, Silvia became involved in the world of coffee, accompanying her father in his work in the fields, which awakened in her a passion that has guided her professional career. She has a degree in International Business and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Social Economy Business Management. In addition, she has the Q Grader certification from the Coffee Quality Institute, which guarantees her expertise in the evaluation of coffee quality.
Victor Cordero is an organic coffee producer and has dedicated over 20 years of his life to improving the social and environmental dynamics of the Santa Marta region in Colombia. He has been a pioneer in organic farming and has helped grow and develop the community of sustainable agricultural producers.
Marcela is responsible for all sustainability and international cooperation issues in the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia. Since last year she has been leading the strategy for the implementation of the EUDR (Deforestation Free Products Regulation) for the Colombian coffee sector and for the Federation as the main exporter of Colombian Coffee.
Juan Pablo Solís Víquez is Fairtrade’s Senior Advisor for Climate and Environment. He holds an economic policies M.Sc. from the National University of Costa Rica, with an emphasis on ecologic economy and sustainable development. Before joining Fairtrade, Juan Pablo worked for the humanist Dutch-based organization Hivos, and was appointed manager of InterAmerican Development Bank Lab’s SAFE Platform. He has specialised training in human rights, gender equity, value chains, green business, landscape restoration, microfinance, and sustainable development goals. More than 18 years in the sustainability sector have led him to work and live in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific.
Lubomír is responsible for managing the entire team of Fairtrade Czech Republic and Slovakia, strategic management and development of the organization. Part of his agenda falls also into the business activities related to coffeee and selected business partners. He sees the combination of trade, ethics and sustainability as a tremendously powerful combination that benefits everyone in the supply chain and also nature.
Joel López is a coffee entrepreneur with an outstanding trajectory in the sector. He was born on June 13, 1984 and has dedicated his career to the development of specialty coffee in Honduras. In addition to being a Founding Partner of the organization, he has served as President of CAFESCOR, S.A. since 2014, leading its growth and consolidation in the market. His vision has promoted quality and sustainability in coffee production.
I come from a coffee growing family in Guatemala and since I was young I got involved with fair trade, as my parents are part of a Fairtrade certified organization. After graduating as an Industrial Bachelor and Computer Engineer, I obtained a scholarship in cooperativism, culminating my training as a University Technician in Management of Cooperatives and Associations. My specialization in organic coffee production in ACODIHUE allowed me to play a technical role, supporting small producers. I have held leadership positions as President of the Youth Commission in ACODIHUE and in the Guatemalan Fair Trade Coordinator. Currently, I am studying Agronomy to strengthen my commitment to sustainable production and fair trade.
She is Guatemalan and an agricultural promoter at Manos Campesinas. She recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science and literature, although due to economic conditions she is not yet able to continue her studies, she has dreams of continuing her education. Her link with Manos Campesinas began through a youth project of generational plots, and later she played roles as an agricultural inspector and agricultural promoter. In the last three years, she participated in a group of young entrepreneurs within the organization, where she and six other young people started a project to raise criollo poultry. The project grew, incorporating a section of laying hens for the sale of eggs, with great success. Currently, they are about to start a fattening poultry project for the sale of chicken meat, all supported by Manos Campesinas. In addition, he has represented the youth group in an international event in Paraguay.
Denis Muñoz, Finance and International Coffee Market Analyst. 14 years collaborating for ASOBAGRI, an organization of small organic and fair trade coffee producers in Guatemala. With experience in finance, project management and execution, account operator in NY Stock Exchange Contract C. As of 2020 ASOBAGRI has its own account in the Stock Exchange and a defined strategy for risk management in the international price of coffee.
Agricultural Engineer, with postgraduate studies in: Sustainable Agriculture for Export (National University of Piura) and Social Management (National University of Cajamarca- Jaen section). Specialist in agricultural production and integrated management of coffee and cocoa crops, organic farm inspector, specialist in training of internal quality management systems for the production of organic and sustainable crops, management of training methodologies in farmer field schools (ECAs), constitution and strengthening of producer organizations and cupper of specialty coffees.
Coffee cupper with international certification Q-Arabica Grader / Q-Robusta Grader, master coffee roaster, technologist in Coffee Growing, with postgraduate studies in Agroecology, master’s degree in Agroecology with focus on microenvironments and their influence on the quality of canephora coffees, doctoral student in Plant Biotechnology. He acts as a coffee quality judge in several national competitions, is a technical member of CECAFES (Espírito Santo Specialty Coffee Center) and an extensionist for Incaper (Capixaba Institute for Research, Technical Assistance and Rural Extension).
Be part of the push for sustainable Fair Trade Coffee. Consult our sponsorship packages here or contact us at [email protected]
🏆OUR PRINCIPAL PARTNERS
•Diamond Partners
•Gold Partners
•Platinum Partners
•Silver Partners
🎯SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES: UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR BRAND
| Sponsorship Fee | Diamond ($20,000) | Platinum ($10,000) | Gold ($5,000) | Silver ($1,500) |
| Panel Opportunity | ☕️ | |||
| Logo in event spaces (except main event) | ☕️ | ☕️ | ☕️ | ☕️ |
| Logo in main space | ☕️ | ☕️ | ||
| Logo in social networks | ☕️ | ☕️ | ☕️ | ☕️ |
| Space in exhibition area | ☕️ | ☕️ | ||
| Logo on giveaway kits | ☕️ | ☕️ | ||
| Registers included | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Discount on additional registrations | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Logo on the website | ☕️ | ☕️ | ☕️ | ☕️ |
| Mentions in social networks | ☕️ | ☕️ | ☕️ | |
| Logo in promotional video | ☕️ | ☕️ | ||
| Delegate interview | ☕️ | ☕️ | ||
| Logo on lunch tables/Brief presentation | ☕️ | |||
| Logo on the name badges | ☕️ | |||
| Digital photos of the event | ☕️ | ☕️ | ☕️ | |
| Sponsorships available | 2 | 5 | 10 | 10 |
BENEFITS OF SPONSORSHIP
Being a sponsor will allow you to:
– Expand your brand’s visibility at a prominent industry event.
-Connect with key industry leaders and create business opportunities.
-Position yourself as an ally of Fair Trade and sustainability.
📍 UBICATION
Antigua Guatemala, hosts the I Edition of the Fairtrade Coffee Forum, a unique and historic destination in the production of Fairtrade Coffee with:
–🌱 More than 20,000 producer families committed to sustainable practices.
-🏅 21 certified organizations working for quality and social justice.
-🍫 33,000 tons of coffee annually, consolidating its position as a key player in the Fair Trade market.
🏨 EVENT VENUE
•💰 Special rates for attendees who choose to stay in the Hotel Soleil
•Located in Antigua, Guatemala, it is a colonial jewel and World Heritage Site, famous for its historic architecture, cobblestone streets and the charm of its vibrant coffee culture.
•combines elegance and comfort, surrounded by breathtaking volcanic views and a unique colonial ambiance.
Distance:
From Guatemala City: 40 minutes to 1:30 hrs depending on traffic.
•🏡 ACCOMMODATION
Cost: $208
Address: 8a. calle poniente #1, La Antigua Guatemala 03001, Antigua Guatemala.
Distance from Guatemala City: 40 minutes to 1:30 hrs depending on traffic.
Distance to the Forum: Walking 5 minutes / Vehicle 2 minutes
•📌 Camino Real Antigua Guatemala
Cost: $174
Address: 7a Calle Poniente 33b Antigua, Guatemala.
Distance from Guatemala City: 40 minutes to 1:30 hrs depending on traffic.
Distance to the Forum: Walking 9 minutes / Vehicle 3 minutes
•📌 Hotel Posada de Don Rodrigo Antigua
Cost: $181
Address: 8a Calle Poniente 33b Antigua, Guatemala.
Distance from Guatemala City: 40 minutes to 1:30 hrs depending on traffic.
Distance to the Forum: Walking 18 minutes / Vehicle 6 minutes
Cost: $47
Address: 6a Avenida Norte 43-A, Antigua Guatemala
Distance from Guatemala City: 40 minutes to 1:30 hrs depending on traffic.
Distance to the Forum: Walking 22 minutes / Vehicle 8 minutes
Cost: $104
Address: 5ta ave sur y 9a calle poniente Antigua Guatemala.
Distance from Guatemala City: 40 minutes to 1:30 hrs depending on traffic.
Distance to the Forum: Walking 9 minutes / Vehicle 3 minutes
Cost: $118
Address: 9a. Calle Poniente #40, Antigua Guatemala.
Distance from Guatemala City: 40 minutes to 1:30 hrs depending on traffic.
Distance to the Forum: Walking 5 minutes / Vehicle 2 minutes
🚕 HOW TO ARRIVE?
Discover the most relevant data on Fairtrade coffee production in Latin America and the Caribbean:
REGIONAL GOLDEN CUP COMPETITION
May 12th – 13th
More information coming soon
Welcome to our I Fairtrade Coffee Forum, we are excited to welcome you in Antigua, Guatemala. As a first step, you will need to complete this form to register your participation. Please read carefully and answer all the questions. The information will be included in our registration database and within 10 working days a link will be sent to your email to make the payment for your registration. See you soon!
