As part of the initiatives promoted by the Foreign Ministry for International Coffee Day, Italy’s Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Paris organized an event at the OECD headquarters, titled “Sustainable Coffee: Responsible Business Conduct and Inclusive Development.” That event was a dialogue on the tools developed by the OECD for responsible business conduct and the promotion of sustainable development models in the global coffee supply chain.
The workshop, which was also attended by OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, was opened by the Permanent Representative, Ambassador Luca Sabbatucci, who, in his introductory remarks, noted that “coffee is a complex industrial sector, emblematic of globalization challenges: complex supply chains, environmental vulnerabilities, and social risks. It is also an important development vehicle, and the tools developed by the OECD are particularly relevant to this sector. For this reason, it is also a priority of the Mattei Plan for Africa, with the aim of supporting agricultural investment and responsible supply chains, strengthening economic and social opportunities in producing countries.”
The event saw the participation of institutional representatives, international experts, companies and sector stakeholders, who discussed the main challenges of coffee production and distribution globally, ranging from respecting workers’ rights to combating child labour, from preventing deforestation to adopting sustainable agricultural practices. Speakers at the meeting included Carmine Di Noia, OECD Director for Financial Affairs and Businesses; Annalisa Primi from the OECD Development Centre; Alessandra Pastorelli from the Directorate General for the Promotion of the Country System of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Laura Granara from the ITA Agency in Paris; and Andrej Godina, an expert and communicator in the coffee sector.
Special attention was paid to the integrated Italian coffee supply chain, which remains a strategic asset for Made in Italy: Italy produces a quarter of Europe’s roasted coffee, and roasted coffee now is the third largest export product in Italy’s agri-food sector, with a value exceeding €2.5 billion and particularly strong performances in the European and US markets.
Finally, the event highlighted the commitment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) to promoting the sector through initiatives aimed at enhancing Italian excellence and fostering the creation of more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable supply chains.
