Poor Farmer

The World Market and Coffee Producers Assessing Ethiopia’s coffee sector to understand the root causes of its problems and remedial solutions to internal problems. This series discusses the scholarly paper, “ Ethiopia’s Coffee Sector: A Bitter or Better Future? ” by Nicolas Petit . The preceding posting, “ What Can Be Done To Save Ethiopia’s Coffee Sector? – Part I ,” was introductory to this and future postings where we will continue the in-depth discussion with extensive quotations from the paper by Nicolas Petit. ----------------------------- Time and again, coffee is compared to oil as one of the most actively traded commodities. Both coffee and oil are traded in current and futures markets, mostly at the New York Stock Exchange market. Yet the most important trait the two commodities share is price volatility due to supply-demand, among many other factors. But, the impact of price volatility is more severe on coffee producers than oil exporters. Oil-exporting countries have le...

Interview with Doctor Nestor Osorio, Executive Director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO): COFFEE TIME By Gustavo Capdevila IPS COLUMNIST SERVICE APRIL 2007 GENEVA, Apr (IPS) Though speculation by investment funds has introduced a persistent volatility into the coffee market, executive director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO) Nestor Osorio holds that it will maintain its current equilibrium and remunerative prices for the present year. The Colombian diplomat, who recently attended a seminar in Geneva on Commodities and Development organised by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), responds below to questions from IPS. In this period of a commodities bonanza for developing countries, coffee appeared as the Cinderella, with falling prices. Will this tendency continue? The situation has improved somewhat. In 1989 after the collapse of the regulatory system of the market there was a gigantic quantity of coffee withheld to satisfy quotas. Between ...

Associated Press Via azcentral.com Apr. 19, 2007 SEATTLE - With a growing crowd of millions lining up for its fancy coffee drinks in the 1990s, Starbucks Corp. was tantalized by seemingly endless opportunities to expand its brand. A chain of full-service restaurants? Seems like a good fit. A hip tavern with coffee undertones? Hey, sounds sexy. A literary magazine? Why not! It didn't take long for those ventures to fall flat. And as the coffeehouse titan readies for a long-term explosion of growth, some Starbucks-watchers warn the company may again be stretching its all-important brand too far. Even company chairman Howard Schultz frets that the efficiency improvements driving Starbucks' dominance have robbed stores of their authenticity. Starbucks' leaders say they haven't forgotten the past. Reminders of their greatest misses are even scattered around global headquarters. "We do look in the mirror and say, ... Hey, don't forget when that didn't work,"...

Also read LYIP's blog entry, "Day 2 - Ethiopia's Quid Pro Quo" : "Since deciding to seek Trademarks for three of Ethiopia’s finest coffees in 2004, many of these are now secured. The embossed certificates were paraded for all to see: an objective testament and acknowledgement of Ethiopia’s rights and ownership of the reputation and the intrinsic value of these coffee marks. Companies who are already joining Ethiopia’s network of licensed distributors and are signing the licensing agreement fully accept this notion of quid pro quo. This is at the heart of every licensing deal in every industry. Ethiopia is not reinventing the wheel here. Just joining in!" Clicke here ------- Training On Licensing Underway for Coffee Growers The Daily Monitor Yonas Abiye, Addis Ababa April 18, 2007 Ethiopian coffee growers and exporters are being trained on licensing in a workshop intended to educate them on all there is to know about negotiations and subsequent agreements ...

BUSINESS WIRE April 18, 2007 Coffee Pacifica, Inc. (OTCBB:CFPC) announced today that it will commence to sell, through its 100% owned subsidiary Uncommon Grounds Inc., Fair Trade and Organic certified coffee produced by farmer co-operatives in Ethiopia. According to the International Coffee Organization historical production data, Ethiopia is the worlds 6th largest coffee exporting country. The addition of certified Ethiopian coffee will increase Coffee Pacifica’s current and future revenue. Terry Klassen, CEO of Coffee Pacifica, stated, “We believe that this first order of specialty coffee from Ethiopia is just the beginning of a long-term relationship with the Ethiopian co-operatives.” Jon Yogiyo, Vice Chairman of Coffee Pacifica and Chairman of PNG Coffee Growers Federation Ltd., said that “I am excited with the third coffee-producing country joining our distribution network. Within three years, Coffee Pacifica has established a global presence, and our unique 'Growers Direct...

Light Years IP’s blog, which is dedicated for the Ethiopian Coffee Initiative Training in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, says that more than forty people are attending the training. The posting, “The possible and the feasible,” is full of optimism and excitement: “While managing coffee brands is common enough in the developed world, this is just unprecedented here in Ethiopia. And participants from coops, private exporters and relevant government institutions came with sacks of questions and deep expectations for the week ahead.” I am impressed with the questions raised by the participants: “They asked: As our trademarks are now secured [note: Ethiopia has now secured TMs in 28 key export markets] what are the current marketing plans and what are the next steps? How long will it take to see results? What are other developing countries’ experiences and what can we learn from them? What is the best way to convince our buyers of the benefits trademarks and licensing will bring? Can we really beg...

CSR wire April 17, 2007 ADDIS ABEBA April 17, 2007 - Leaders and representatives of Ethiopian Fine Coffee Sector, farmers cooperative unions and exporters as well as representatives of relevant government bodies are gathering in Addis Ababa to be trained in trademarking and licensing management. This will further strengthen the innovative new coffee partnership with international specialty coffee buyers and distributors. At a four-day training course this week, a wide range of stakeholders in the Ethiopian coffee sector will gain know-how in trademarks, licensing and negotiation. "This is a pivotal event in the long history of Ethiopian coffee production and export. While using trademarks and licensing agreements is a common enough affair in many international industries and global distribution chains, it is surprisingly, almost unprecedented in coffee. We need to be prepared and confident in the full knowledge of our rights, our powers, and our options as we approach our buyers o...