WASHINGTON, U.S. – In an effort to highlight contributions of the Colombian coffee industry to the country’s development and the active role that coffee can play in post-conflict Colombia, the Embassy of Colombia in the United States and the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) hosted the “Coffee and Peace” event.
“Coffee and Peace” was the first of a series of events that will be held to discuss peace efforts in Colombia in relation to the diversity of Colombian coffees and of the communities who produce them. The events seek to shed light on the role that coffee has played in building the social fabric in Colombian coffee-growing communities and in fostering the country’s development.
Congressmen, government officials, journalists, analysts and other guests had the opportunity to talk with Colombian coffee growers and taste Colombian coffees from regions including Antioquia, Sierra Nevada, Caldas, Huila, Cauca and Nariño.
Ambassador of Colombia Juan C. Pinzón acknowledged the long-standing cooperation between the Government of Colombia and the FNC and referred to the historic role of the coffee sector and the FNC as agents of peace and development.
He then analyzed the role that the coffee sector can play in post-conflict Colombia and announced that the next event will present coffees from regions where the Government and the FNC have been working to rebuild the coffee sector and foster peace.
One of these regions is El Orejón, in the municipality of Briceño, in Antioquia, where the National Army and the rebel group FARC are implementing a joint demining program.
In response to the government’s call, the FNC has committed to contributing to productive development and peace in rural Colombia.
As noted by Roberto Vélez, CEO of the FNC, in the National Congress of Coffee Growers, “We are committed to supporting the President in this path to peace, which involves all Colombians. (…) We have made all of our efforts available so that peace can materialize through Colombian coffee growers and spread out through rural Colombia.”
