Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) has provided sustainability support to 105,000 farmers in 18 coffee producing countries, reaching more than half of the 200,000 producers it is targeting by 2025
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The support for farmers forms part of Coffee LENS, ofi’s coffee sustainability plan which launched in October 2020 | Photo credit: ofi
Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) has announced it has reached 105,000 farmers with sustainability support and has reiterated its commitment to a more resilient coffee supply chain amid rising market volatility.
Part of Singapore-based food and agri-business Olam Group, ofi says that the sustainability support for farmers includes training on sustainable agricultural practices and basic business skills, technical assistance and access to higher value markets.
The support forms part of Coffee LENS, ofi’s coffee sustainability plan which launched in October 2020. ofi has an objective to reach 200,000 coffee farmers with targeted sustainability support by 2025.
Achievements cited by the group in its latest update include 32% average yield increases for farmers in San Martín, Peru, and certification premiums worth $830,000 distributed amongst more than 14,000 farmers in the Aceh and North Sumatra regions of Indonesia.
Discussing rising market volatility, Vivek Verma, CEO, Coffee at ofi, said that coffee prices, which have recovered from a four-year low to reach record highs, are expected to only offer temporary respite to the world’s 12.5 million smallholders.
“Coffee LENS is challenging us to do more to contribute to a fairer, more resilient coffee future, while continuing to deliver high-quality sustainable ingredients to our roasters and manufacturing customers,” he said.
ofi offers a range of coffee, cocoa, dairy, nuts and spices, including private label options. In April 2022 ofi grew its presence across North America with the acquisition of Canadian retail and private label coffee brand Coffee Club.
Parent company Olam Group supplies food, ingredients and agricultural feed to more than 29,000 customers in more than 60 countries around the world. Olam Group also operates specialty green coffee businesses in the US and UK.