Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the SCA (left), and Vanúsia Nogueira, Executive Director of the ICO (right) | Photo credit: ICO

The International Coffee Organization (ICO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) to boost specialty coffee sustainability and education.
 

In a joint press release, the ICO and SCA said the agreement will harness their combined outreach and expertise and enable better knowledge-sharing, education and capacity building.  

Under the MoU, signed at the ICO’s London headquarters on 1 December 2023, both organisations pledged to create training programmes and foster skill development across coffee production, trade, roasting, brewing and preparation methods. 

Additionally, the MoU outlines a joint commitment to increase visibility in global specialty coffee markets by empowering producer organisations to access specialty coffee and embrace higher-value trading models through the SCA’s Coffee Value Assessment. 

“Promoting comprehensive training is not just a necessity; it is one of the most important elements to fuel the future of the coffee sector. Education and skills development are the keys to unlocking the full potential of our industry, ensuring a robust foundation for sustainable growth, fostering innovation, and empowering every actor in the value chain, from bean to cup,” said Vanúsia Nogueira, Executive Director of the ICO. 

“Today’s signature marks a significant stride towards sustainability by creating new opportunities for knowledge transfer across the coffee sector. Collaborative and diverse approaches, like this partnership with the ICO, will play a crucial role in making the rewards of the specialty coffee segment accessible worldwide,” added Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO, SCA. 

Established in 1963 following the five-year International Coffee Agreement of 1962, the ICO’s members represent 98% of all coffee producing nations and 67% of coffee consumption markets. 
 

Founded in 1982 as the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the SCA was formed when the non-profit trade organisation merged with the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe in January 2017. The SCA has more than 10,000 active members across over 40 countries.