World Coffee Conferences
Every four to five years, the International Coffee Organization holds a high-level World Coffee Conference to enable discussion around critical topics for the global coffee sector. The first four Conferences have taken place in England (2001), Brazil (2005), Guatemala (2010), and Ethiopia (2016).
4th World Coffee Conference
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (6 to 8 March 2016)
The coffee community from Africa and around the world gathered in the Ethiopian capital for two days of engaging debate at the 4th World Coffee Conference, hosted by the Government of Ethiopia.
The 77 Member Countries of the International Coffee Organization (ICO) and over 900 attendees, including coffee growers and representatives from government, the private sector, and international agencies participated in a range of discussions related to the theme of the Conference, ‘Nurturing coffee culture and diversity’.
Programme | Speeches | Photos: Flickr, Dropbox, .zip file | Videos | Review of themes
3rd World Coffee Conference
Guatemala City, Guatemala (26 to 28 February 2010)
The ICO World Coffee Conference 2010 took place in Guatemala from 26 to 28 February 2010, chaired by the President of Guatemala, H.E. Mr. Alvaro Colom Caballeros. It brought together over 1,400 coffee growers and representatives from government, the private sector and international agencies from the 76 Member countries of the ICO. The Conference was inaugurated by the President of Guatemala, with the participation of the President of Honduras, H.E. Mr Porfirio Lobo. The President of El Salvador, H.E. Mr Carlos Mauricio Funes, participated in the Closing Ceremony. Also in attendance at the Opening Ceremony were the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, the Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities, the President of Anacafe, the ICO Executive Director, the Chairman of the International Coffee Council and Ministers of Agriculture from ICO Member countries. The main theme was “Coffee for the future: towards a sustainable coffee sector” and over 30 high-level speakers spoke on issues ranging from changes and trends in world supply and demand to environmental and social sustainability. The preliminary conclusions of the Conference were presented at the closing ceremony on 28 February 2010. The International Coffee Council reviewed the conclusions and outcomes of the Conference at its 105th Session from 20-24 September 2010.
Programme l Background document l Opening ceremony l Presentations l Photos l Review of themes
2nd World Coffee Conference
Salvador, Brazil (23 to 25 September 2005)
The 2nd World Coffee Conference took place in Salvador, Brazil from 23 to 25 September 2005, chaired by Mr. Roberto Rodrigues, the Minister of Agriculture of Brazil. It brought together around 1200 coffee growers and representatives from government, the private sector and international agencies. Almost half the delegates came from overseas, from 65 countries. The Conference was inaugurated by the President of Brazil, Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in the presence of the President of Colombia, H.E. Mr. Alvaro Uribe, the Governor of Bahia and the ICO Executive Director. The main theme was “Lessons emerging from the crisis: New paths for the coffee sector`and over 20 high-level speakers spoke on issues ranging from coffee policies in a market economy to how to develop a sustainable coffee economy. The Chairman presented a preliminary summary of the Conference to the Council at its 94th Session from 27 to 29 September 2005, and presented the final report of the Conference to the Council in May 2006. Copies of a CD-Rom with detailed information about the Conference, including the programme, presentations and Conference conclusions, were distributed to Members attending the 95th Session of the Council (copies are available on request to ICO Members). A document reviewing themes raised at the Conference was circulated for use in discussions on the future of the 2001 Agreement (document EB-3901/05 Rev. 1).
Presentations l Minister's report l Review of themes l Summary report
1st World Coffee Conference
London, UK (17 to 19 May 2001)
The 1st World Coffee Conference took place in London from 17 to 19 May 2001. The Conference was chaired by Dr. Jorge Cárdenas, of Colombia, General Manager of the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, and brought together over 450 leaders and decision-makers from coffee producing countries, major private sector companies and many other organizations dealing with coffee. Delegates heard presentations on a wide range of topics, and many ideas for resolving the current crisis of low prices were put forward. New data on the positive effects on health of coffee consumption were also released during the Conference at a press conference on 18 May.
The Council subsequently approved Resolution 400 urging follow up of the ideas presented at the Conference. A World Coffee Conference Programme Committee met and put forward a number of recommendations which were approved by the Council in May 2002 and incorporated into the ICO five-year Plan of Action.
