3rd Philippine Coffee Conference In Baguio City, March 20-21

Baguio City hosts the 3rd Philippine Coffee Conference from March 20 to 21 at the Hotel Supreme. The conference brings together different industry stakeholders from the public and private sectors from all over the country. On top of the agenda is the implementation of the Philippine Coffee Roadmap 2017-2022.

According to Sun Star Baguio, the Department of Agriculture takes the lead in the conference in close cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry. Both cabinet secretaries will be present during the conference.

State Of The Philippine Coffee Industry

The conference recognizes the role of the private sector, ably represented by Nestle Philippines and Bo’s Coffee, a Cebu-based coffee chain. They serve as co-chairpersons of the Philippine Coffee Council.

Among the key areas for discussion is the state of the industry following the implementation of the roadmap. The roadmap was approved in 2017 and aims to improve and increase national coffee production. It also created the Philippine Coffee Council to be led by the private sector.

Increasing Coffee Production, Sharing Best Practices

According to another article in the Business Mirror, the roadmap also takes into account that local coffee consumption has increased over the past few years. However, local coffee production has gone down. Data also shows that most of the business goes to international coffee chains rather than the local coffee industry.

At the conference, selected coffee industry players will share their best practices in quality coffee farming, coffee roasting and managing a coffee shop business. These sessions aim to provide insights into how to improve production.

A special session on financing brings together several financing groups such as the Small Business Corporation, the Peace and Equity Foundation and Negosyong Pinoy.

Philippine Coffee Council officers and Regional Council representatives will also be inducted during the two-day conference. This council serves as the implementing arm of the roadmap, in cooperation with all levels of government.