Coffee

Mondelez International, an American confectionery, food and beverage firm, has opened a new training facility for coffee farmers in Vietnam to promote sustainability and entrepreneurship.

The farmer training centre is part of the company’s ‘Coffee Made Happy’ sustainability programme, under which the company aims to invest around $200m to educate one million coffee farming entrepreneurs by 2020.

With the help of the 4C Association and supplier ACOM, the programme will train 1,500 farmers in agricultural practices such as increasing quality of beans and coffee crop yields.

Being one of the major buyers of coffee in Vietnam, the investment will help Mondelez’s aim to sustainably source 100% of its coffee in Western Europe by 2015.

Mondelez International global coffee president Hubert Weber said Coffee Made Happy is focused on helping farmers to become more successful entrepreneurs by working with partners to improve coffee production and business skills.

"Farmers are learning how to manage their businesses more effectively through simple tools like profit-and-loss log books, and they’re using new skills to grow more coffee with fewer resources, leading to more productive and profitable farms," Weber added.

"The program is a key part of Mondelez International’s overall commitment to sustainable agricultural commodities.

"Connecting Coffee Made Happy with our iconic brands creates a story that we can share with consumers about how we support entrepreneurs and nurture thriving communities in a quest to guarantee a supply of high-quality coffee for our delicious products."

In the next two years, Mondelez plans to invest over $1m in Vietnam and Indonesia to support Coffee Made Happy programme and IDH Sustainability Coffee Program to develop sustainable coffee in both countries.

Image: Mondelez will train 1,500 farmers to improve coffee production and business skills. Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.