Lessons from Progeny Coffee: Social & Environmental Sustainability from Farm to Cup
A case study by Cecillia Cheng
September 25, 2024
Key Takeaways
- Progeny Coffee empowers Colombian coffee farmers by streamlining the supply chain, providing free agricultural education, and driving research and innovation.
- To improve sustainable growing practices, leveraging traditional nature-based solutions like shade-grown coffee can be more effective than relying on new technologies.
- Consumers can support sustainable coffee practices by engaging with their baristas and asking questions about the coffee's sourcing and sustainability.
Breaking the Poverty Cycle
Progeny Coffee was co-founded by a 5th generation Colombian coffee farmer Maria Palacio and her husband John Trabelsi in 2016. Their mission is to empower coffee farmers to lift themselves out of the poverty cycle. Smallholder coffee farms produce 70% of the world’s coffee, and nearly half of these farmers live in poverty. Through its unwavering focus and perseverance, Progeny coffee has doubled the income of farmers with whom it works, established the Beyond Trade Impact Fund, and driven innovative research on sustainable agricultural practices. Progeny has driven meaningful impact for Colombian farmers and serves as a model for transforming the global coffee industry.
Education
The company provides free agricultural training and tools, enabling farmers to enhance their techniques and coffee quality. Their strategy focuses on traditional farming methods like shade-grown coffee, which has proven effective in elevating bean quality and commanding premium prices. Progeny has also established an innovative program called Adopt-a-Farmer. This program allows consumers to support individual farmers. Each coffee bag features a photo of the farmer, creating a personal connection between coffee drinkers and growers.
In less than a decade, Progeny has transformed the lives of over 500 coffee farmers and their communities. 10% of these farmers are women—a traditionally underrepresented group in the coffee industry.
Beyond Trade
In 2022, Progeny established Beyond Trade, a non-profit organization, and Beyond Trade Impact Fund, which is dedicated to expanding farmers’ access to sustainable agricultural techniques and to providing development programs to farming communities. Farmers in this network receive free training, on-going agricultural technical support, and Beyond TradeTM certification. To achieve the certification, farmers must meet all 16 standards, which includes demonstrated commitment to responsible labor conditions, soil restoration, and the use of organic fertilizers. By setting these high standards, Beyond Trade aims to create a more sustainable and equitable future for coffee farmers and their communities.
Nature-based solutions
With a focus on bean quality and regenerative agriculture, Progeny established its own coffee innovation farm and lab in 2018. It has experimented with everything from pineapple fermentation to development of a low cost alternative to improve soil health. Through six years of research, Progeny has learned that leveraging traditional practices, such as shade grown coffee, works better for Colombian farmers rather than adopting the newest technologies. These traditional methods encourage biodiversity, improve soil health, and reduce reliance on conventional agricultural inputs.
What consumers can do to promote sustainable coffee farmers
Maria Palacio encourages consumers to drive demand for sustainable coffee by engaging with their local coffee shops. She recommends asking baristas and shop owners about their sourcing practices, the names of the farmers, and the coffee processing methods. This approach not only educates consumers but also signals to coffee shops that there's a growing demand for sustainably sourced coffee.
