PROJECT NEXT GEN
At Smokin’ Bean we know our producers. We understand the risks and challenges faced by coffee farmers and we want to help them overcome these challenges and provide support right where it is needed. That’s why we are proud to launch Project Next Gen: a unique initiative designed to inspire young people – the next generation of coffee farmers.
What is the challenge for coffee farming communities?
The average age of coffee farmers is increasing, yet it’s becoming more common for the next generation to leave the family farm in search of different career paths. What does this mean for the future of coffee? It’s clear that for coffee to support communities for generations to come, we must engage young people, and offer a promising future.
The demand for coffee is growing and showing no signs of slowing down. With this comes many more opportunities for the ambitious young farmer. We want to motivate young people to choose coffee and to show them that it can provide a stable and profitable future.
What do young people say prevents them from working in the coffee business?
Hard physical work
Undignified working conditions
Low salary
Inadequate education offer
Few options for welfare
Unequal distribution of land
Source: Investing in Youth in Coffee Growing Communities, A Review of Current Programs and Practices in Latin America, Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung, SAFE & Sustainable Food Lab (2018)
What will project next gen do to address this?
We know that young people are the key agents of change. That’s why our Project Next Gen programme aims to inspire and engage young people from coffee-growing communities at the Ubiriki cooperative in Peru.
In this project we will:
Invest in equipment and training for young people
- 24 young adults will be selected
- At least 50% female representation
- Either co-operative members or children of members and technicians
Enable the improvement of coffee quality
- Hire three external professionals
- Training on wet coffee processing
- Speciality coffee cupping
- How to increase quality
Ongoing learning and development
- Transfer learning to 180 co-operative members through field schools
- Five participants selected to become Q-graders, and hired in the quality control team
What do we hope to achieve?
Clear procedures for processing methods
Increase in average SCAA cupping scores
Increased market access for the co-operative
Young people are more engaged in coffee
Collaborative learning across the co-operative
Strengthen the organisation for the future
Meet the participants
Elizabeth Zevallos Carrasco
Age: 22
Occupation: Business Administration Student
Edwin David Matute Muñoz
Age: 32
Occupation: Farmer
Erselia Cahuana Taipe
Age: 22
Occupation: Agricultural Technician
Jhonny Ivan Maldonado Ricci
Age: 25
Occupation: Environmental Career Student
Olga Amalia Huayta Mezares
Age: 25
Occupation: Farmer
Percy Jherly Ortiz Arzapalo
Age: 21
Occupation: Environmental Career Student
Rinaldo Efrain Rojas Apolinario
Age: 18
Occupation: Preparatory
Sebastian Fabian Guizado Marcelo
Age: 21
Occupation: Environmental Career Student
Tadeo Cristhian Soto Armas
Age: 34
Occupation: Industrial Engineer
Wilmer Veliz Pastrana
Age: 26
Occupation: Mechanical Engineering Student
Talavera Mayta Harold Hugo
Age: 24
Occupation: Farmer / Mechanic Technician
Yeny Margot Rivas Huaman
Age: 30
Occupation: Farmer
César Miguel Castillo Torpoco
Age: 32
Occupation: Farmer / Student of Agronomy
Franco Camargo Nuñez
Age: 26
Occupation: Farmer / Heavy Machinery Technician
Moises Huayana Ceras
Age: 17
Occupation: Agronomy Student
Kenyo Camarena Malpartida
Age: 23
Occupation: Farmer – Graduate of Computing and Information
Miriam Anais Ramos Ibañez
Age: 28
Occupation: Agroindustrial Engineer
Lourdes Córdova Moya
Teacher of the Quality Control and Taceo course of Specialty Coffees