BALTIMORE, MD, U.S. – Lutheran World Relief will bring together representatives from across the Indonesian coffee value chain for two days of discussions on the successes, challenges and opportunities in Sumatran coffee production at the fourth annual Temu Kopi Forum.
Temu Kopi Sumatra 2016 will be held on November 1-2, 2016 at the Grand Swiss-Belhotel in Medan, Indonesia. It will highlight discussions on the pressing issues facing the Indonesian coffee industry, such as increasing production quality, accessing credit and financing, managing risk and ensuring environmental sustainability.
The forum presents a valuable opportunity for key players in the Sumatran coffee value chain — including producers, exporters, importers, buyers and roasters — to connect with representatives of the public and non-profit sectors to build mutually beneficial business relationships that ethically link coffee tree to coffee cup. There will also be ample opportunity for networking, including a speed networking session and a networking reception.
Notable speakers include Rick Peyser, LWR’s senior relationship manager for coffee and cocoa; Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Director of Strategic Issues for the Ministry of Trade, Republic of Indonesia; Ed Canty, general manager of Cooperative Coffees, a green coffee importer owned by 22 craft roasters in North America; Yuliana Doloksaribu, sustainability manager at Ecom Trading, a global commodity trading and processing company; and Djumhur Abubakar of the LWR-supported Permata Gayo Cooperative in Western Sumatra, Indonesia.
Topics for panel discussion include the effect of climate change on coffee crops, how to become a coffee producer organization, a discussion on ensuring sustainable growth through coffee certification and financing and the present and future of the Indonesian coffee industry. There will be cupping sessions where attendees can sample coffee from producers in Gayo, North Sumatra and Flores. Forum attendees will have the opportunity at the end of the conference to visit LWR projects at coffee farms and cooperatives in Lintong, Gayo or Flores.
Coffee farming is a key source of income for many small-scale Indonesian farmers. Today, more than 90 percent of Indonesia’s coffee is produced by poor rural farming communities, and it is an important means of lifting farming families out of poverty.
For more information, please visit the Temu Kopi 2016 website.
Lutheran World Relief works to improve the lives of smallholder farmers and people experiencing poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America, both in times of emergencies and for the long term. With the financial support of US Lutherans and other donors, LWR strengthens communities through programs in agriculture, climate, and emergency support. LWR works with partners, supporters and technical assistance providers to achieve lasting results. For more information, visit lwr.org.
