In the city of Athens, Greece, the annual World Coffee Forum took center stage during the weekend of June 22-24.
Hosted by the Speciality Coffee Association (SCA), this exhilarating event drew in more than 10,000 passionate attendees from an astounding 130 countries. The show floor and Roaster Villages were bursting at the seams, brimming with energy and excitement, as 416 remarkable companies showcased their offerings to a captivated audience.
Among the delegates were some of our very own colleagues from Progreso: our Managing Director, Anneke Goede, the Senior Product Manager of Beyco, Federica Marra, as well as our Program Managers Yasmin Córdova and Daan Mulder, overseeing Latin America and Africa respectively. Their presence exemplified our commitment to staying at the forefront of the industry.
As mentioned by Anneke: ´I particularly enjoyed attending this event as part of our (relatively new) team, witnessing everyone’s strengths in action. It was also wonderful to meet all the cooperatives, which is the very reason we do what we do. Furthermore, it was gratifying to reaffirm how we leverage Beyco as an extension of Progreso, and how Progreso continues to fill a unique niche in the market: the guiding of producer organizations toward access to financing and markets, making a real impact with our network and expertise´.
Upcoming supply chain regulations in the EU
A burning question echoed throughout the conference: how would the imminent supply chain regulations in the European Union impact our realm, and where could one find the clarity to navigate the ensuing consequences?
Based upon what she has seen from the event, Federica enlightened us, revealing that various stakeholders were taking matters into their own hands, initiating fresh initiatives and forging novel platforms. Evidently, the absence of formal communication regarding the implementation and data requirements of these regulations had driven this proactive approach.
As for Beyco, our message was crystal clear: we are committed to fostering transparency and traceability in the value chain. With the ability to provide comprehensive data, tracing back to the very plots where coffee is grown, complete with geographical references, Beyco empowers producers, importers, exporters and roasters to share essential information as needed.
The significance of platforms like Beyco
Moreover, the conference reiterated the significance of platforms like Beyco in bolstering price management and mitigating financial risks for all stakeholders along the supply chain. Beyco’s distinct advantage lies in its capacity to facilitate meaningful relationships throughout the industry. By effectively harnessing the power of our platform, green coffee buyers gain the ability to monitor inventory, fortifying their resilience in an unpredictable market.
Federica emphasized the importance of efficient inventory management, stressing that it is pivotal for predicting demand, controlling warehousing costs, and aligning with consumer preferences. Ensuring a seamless supply chain is essential to avoid compromising on price or quality, particularly in moments when the need arises to procure coffee from alternative sources.
Furthermore, Beyco’s integration with long-standing contracts not only offers monitoring capabilities but also provides financial support, thereby alleviating burdensome risks from farmers and producer organizations. This liberates them to focus on delivering exceptional quality and fostering reliable sourcing practices.
Following this enriching conference experience, one may wonder how Beyco distinguishes itself amidst the sea of digital platforms claiming traceability and data collection at the field level.
According to Federica, our strength lies in our unwavering commitment to collaboration with producers. ´We actively engage with them, seeking their input, testing designs and features, and crafting user-friendly platforms. And now, with our groundbreaking new feature, producers will have the power to customize data collection and app indicators, ensuring ongoing relevance tailored to their specific needs´.
