With a new member in our team, of course, we couldn’t pass up the chance to chat with her and learn more! Keep reading for our interview with Marie.

Marie: ´Agriculture has always been a big part of my journey. I started my studies in agricultural economics and rural development at ESA/INPHB in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire. Later, I continued at BFH/HAFL in Switzerland, where I gained a broader perspective on global agricultural supply chains, value chains, and sustainability.

I’ve had the chance to work on exciting projects in both Côte d’Ivoire and Switzerland, mainly in the cocoa sector. My focus has been on market analysis, project coordination, and research to help make agriculture more sustainable. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to supporting smallholder farmers and creating better opportunities for them.

Excited to Be Part of Progreso

Joining Progreso feels like the perfect fit, as it combines my passion for sustainable agriculture with real impact. I’m eager to collaborate with the team, learn from the field, and develop innovative strategies that truly benefit farmers.

What excites me most is working with different stakeholders—bringing together farmers, markets, and sustainable solutions. I believe real change happens when we work together, and I can’t wait to contribute to Progreso’s mission.

A Personal Touch

Outside of work, I love discovering new cultures through food and travel. Whether it’s trying unique flavors or exploring a country’s history, I’m always up for an adventure! Each journey brings new inspiration, both personally and professionally.

I’m looking forward to this new chapter with Progreso and making a meaningful impact together!´

We thank Marie for her time and for the interview and cannot wait to share more of the work she will be doing with Progreso!

Iris brings a wealth of experience in international economics, sustainability, and social impact to her role as Program Director for Equity Action at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). With a Master’s degree in International Economics, Iris has dedicated her career to improving lives through strategic partnerships, innovation, and creating inclusive solutions.

Her journey began at Rabobank Foundation, where she managed a program portfolio aimed at supporting farmer organizations and microfinance institutions in Asia. Her work laid the foundation for her commitment to sustainable development and social impact.

Iris later joined IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, where she served as the Global Director for Innovation & Insights and as a member of the Management Team. At IDH, she played a pivotal role in driving forward critical innovations, particularly in the areas of Living Income, Living Wages, Inclusive Business Models, Gender Equity, and integrating the Climate and Social Agendas into the core of business strategies. Her ability to foster change through collaboration and innovation set the stage for the sustainable transformations seen across industries.

Before her current role, Iris worked with Olam Food Ingredients (ofi), a leading agribusiness company, as the Head of AtSource Insights & Data. Here, she led initiatives that empowered businesses with data-driven insights to improve sourcing practices and sustainability efforts across the supply chain.

In December 2024, Iris joined WBCSD as Program Director for Equity Action, where she focuses on advancing the social aspect of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. With a keen passion for leveraging the private sector to deliver positive impact for both people and the planet, Iris is committed to scaling solutions that benefit farmers, communities, and vulnerable populations around the world.

As a member of the Supervisory Board of Progreso, Iris is actively involved in initiatives such as data democracy and Beyco, furthering her dedication to enabling inclusive, data-driven decision-making processes that support sustainable agriculture and social equity.

Iris’s leadership and vision continue to inspire change, creating pathways for businesses to deliver measurable, positive impact at scale.

Earlier this month, a key visit took place to three coffee cooperatives in Eastern Uganda—MEACCE, MECAHC, and Bushika—by Anne Rappoldt (Program Manager Africa at Rabo Foundation), Imke Straaten (Program Manager Africa at Progreso Foundation), and Janet Maate (Project Manager Uganda at Progreso Foundation). These cooperatives are great examples of how targeted support and collaboration can significantly boost the coffee sector in Uganda.

From September 8th to 21st, Progreso’s Federica Marra – Senior Product Owner at Beyco – and Natan Yao – Progreso’s Project Manager for Cote d’ Ivoire – travelled from west to east across Cote d’ Ivoire, exploring cocoa plantations and meeting dedicated producers and innovative technologies along the way. 

Over the past months and as a part of their Final Master Thesis students from the Master in Big Data & Analytics at EAE Business School Barcelona have collaborated with the Netherland-based NGO, Progreso and Beyco, a blockchain coffee trading platform, to conduct and analysis of the overlaps between Progreso´s Colombian coffee plots and deforestation areas under the EU Regulations.

The research project examines the overlap between Progreso-supported coffee farming regions and deforestation areas, particularly in Colombia, in response to the EU Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR). As part of their research, the students have developed a geospatial data analysis framework to identify these overlaps.

Colombia was chosen due to its significant data availability on deforestation and coffee farming, provided by Progreso. This enables thorough analysis and robust conclusions. The framework aims for scalability, helping Progreso proactively assess environmental risks across its network using satellite imagery and geospatial data.

According to Federica Marra, Senior Product Owner Beyco: “It was great to collaborate with the EAE School and its students. It allowed Progreso to experiment on an important topic like geodata, EUDR compliance and the fight against deforestation, and it gave us great insight into how we could move forward in the future.“

The study focused on the environmental impact of coffee production, specifically its intersection with deforestation hotspots. It aims to support Progreso in enhancing sustainable coffee production practices and complying with EU regulations on deforestation-free products.

Nicolas Raimundez, from EAE Barcelona, who completed his Master’s Final Project (TFM) on this project, remarked: “Progreso’s collaboration with EAE Barcelona highlighted the importance of knowledge-sharing. Together, we tackled environmental challenges through data-driven approaches.” 

Also, Fernando Luevano, a student from EAE Barcelona and part of this Master’s Final Project stated, “The synergy between EAE Business School Barcelona students and Progreso, showcased the power of multidisciplinary teamwork in addressing meaningful causes like deforestation and bringing about scalable solutions.”

Towards a sustainable coffee production

The project developed by Nicolas Raimundez, Fernando Luevano, Daniel Castro, Daniel Lyons and Sofia Ntalla, EAE Barcelona’s students of the Master in Big Data & Analytics emphasizes sustainable coffee production and geospatial analysis to meet EU deforestation regulations. Developing a scalable framework to identify overlaps between Progreso-supported coffee regions and deforestation areas, supports Progreso’s sustainability goals and sets a precedent for future research. The research underscores the effectiveness of data-driven approaches in addressing environmental challenges and highlights the need for ongoing innovation in data-sharing methods.

The Streamlit dashboard for Huila, Colombia, features a dynamic map aiding EU importers in verifying coffee origins and empowering farmers with conservation insights. It can scale to other regions like Peru, Nicaragua, and Rwanda, enhancing credibility through KPI tracking and proactive risk management. Challenges include data availability, computational resources, and remote internet access. Suggestions include real-time satellite integration, user training, and continuous improvement based on feedback.