KARLSTAD, Sweden – The Steering Committee of the initiative for coffee&climate (c&c) has appointed Kathrine Löfberg, Löfbergs, Sweden, as the new Chair. She follows Nanda Bergstein, Tchibo, Germany, who has been the Chair for 2 years. Mario Cerutti, Lavazza, continues as c&c Vice Chair.
Kathrine Löfberg is the new Chair of c&c
c&c is a pre-competitive partnership of coffee companies and public partners to support smallholder coffee farming families to respond effectively to the effects of climate change, increase their resilience and improve their livelihoods.
It operates in Indonesia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Brazil, Honduras, and Guatemala. “I am grateful for being able to contribute to the meaningful work of c&c as Chair”, says Kathrine Löfberg, who is also Chair of the family-owned coffee group Löfbergs.
She emphasizes, “This partnership offers great opportunities as we can pool our strengths and experience in the sector. Of course, it also comes with challenges, but I look forward to taking them on.”
Nanda Bergstein is resigning her mandate on the c&c Steering Committee as she leaves her position as Director Corporate Responsibility at Tchibo.
“We thank Nanda Bergstein for her dedication and guidance as c&c Chair during the past 2 years and wish her all the best in her new endeavors”, says Stefan Ruge, c&c Program Manager.
In Kathrine Löfberg, he sees a committed successor: “We are happy that Kathrine Löfberg has accepted the mandate. This gives the initiative continuity and keeps it on track. We are very much looking forward to working together and wish her a good start in this important position.”
Mario Cerutti is Chief Institutional Relations and Sustainability Officer at Lavazza. Dedicated to sustainability in the coffee sector for many years, he is currently holding the position as c&c Vice Chair after he has been the Chair himself.
coffee&climate
c&c was founded and is run by the shareholders of International Coffee Partners (ICP) which are Delta Cafés (Portugal), Franck (Croatia), Joh. Johannson (Norway), Lavazza (Italy), Löfbergs (Sweden), Neumann Gruppe (Germany), Paulig (Finland), and Tchibo (Germany). Associate members are Tim Hortons (Canada), Walter Matter (Switzerland), and J.M. Smucker (USA).
The initiative works in cooperation with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and with Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung (HRNS) as coordinating and implementing partner.
About the initiative for coffee&climate
The initiative for coffee&climate (c&c) is a pre-competitive partnership of private and public actors. Together they strive to support smallholder coffee farming families and their communities to effectively respond to climate change, increase their resilience and improve their livelihoods.
Since its founding in 2010, c&c has been working in seven regions worldwide: Following a five-step participatory and inclusive approach, smallholder families get access to practical tools and knowledge, allowing them to adapt their farms to climate change, minimize carbon emissions and enhance the carbon storage potential in coffee landscapes.
With more than 92,000 coffee farming households supported to date, c&c is currently in its third phase of implementation and will reach an additional 80,000 families by 2024.
