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- From coffee to avocados in Cauca, Colombia
From coffee to avocados in Cauca, Colombia
Sustainability, diversity and inclusion are some of the cross-cutting themes that guide PUM’s work. We try to identify and address them in all our activities. They are basic elements in the coffee business of self-taught entrepreneur Carlos Arturo Lopez. His company ASCAFÉ provides a stable income for thousands of smallholder farmers in the Cauca region in Colombia. He involves single women, youth, indigenous people and former FARC fighters through education and vocational training. PUM expert Lou van Noorden collaborated with him in setting up a new business, Social Avocado.
ASCAFÉ in Popayán, Colombia, sources coffee beans from small growers for export to Europe, mainly Italy and Denmark. The coffee beans are purchased from about 3,100 small coffee farmers in the Cauca region. Carlos Arturo Lopez founded ASCAFÉ in 2002. Although he dropped out of school at the age of 13, his creativity and energy enabled him to build the company. Carlos endorses the importance of agriculture and education in his region. He clarifies: ‘All coffee growers have a contract with ASCAFÉ and we give them technical advice and materials. This improves the quality and quantity of their crops, which results in a sustainable income and better lives.’
The Cauca region, a complex area
Country coordinator Jaap Duijvestein explains: ‘The Cauca region is ethnically very diverse, the FARC was active there, a lot of people live in poverty and there is a lot of illegal cocaine cultivation which means crime is around the corner. What makes Carlos’ approach so interesting, is that he is working with this diverse population. Among his coffee growers are single women, former FARC fighters, indigenous people and youth.’ Carlos has set up a special programme ‘Spirit of Peace’ for former FARC fighters, who were given a piece of land to make a living but have no background in coffee growing. A lot of youngsters are seduced by the fast money of the illegal practices surrounding the cultivation of cocaine and Carlos tries to give them another perspective. Through vocational training with modern methods and tools, and in close collaboration with schools in the area, he tries to interest and inspire the youth in growing coffee.
Setting up Social Avocado
Cauca is also an excellent region to grow avocados. Since it is a fresh fruit, large amounts of water are needed. Thanks to the abundant rainfall in the area, cultivation is possible without drying out the soil. Colombia’s government is helping former FARC fighters to start avocado farms and supports small-scale coca farmers to abandon their illegal cultivation and switch to avocados. Carlos has set up the company Social Avocado which follows the same business philosophy as ASCAFÉ. He helps the farmers to improve their harvest, shares knowledge, provides materials and creates access to the European market. The avocados are currently sourced from about 120 growers.
Sharing knowledge
PUM was asked to share knowledge in the start-up phase of Social Avocado. PUM expert Lou van Noorden, who has a background in engineering, started giving advice online and visited the client on location in September 2022. He explains: ‘We are talking about fresh fruit and that means the product has to be sorted, classified, packaged and transported. This has to be done in a controlled way so that food safety is not compromised and European standards are met. I helped to define the process, to set up the factory design and to put in place an organisation model. In the meantime, food safety certification has been received for export to Europe, an attractive and promising market. The first contracts with customers are underway.’
Impact
The avocado facility will process the first harvest in the summer. In five years’ time, 480 farmer families will develop about 3,000 tons per year, and more than 90 people will work in the factory. By sharing his knowledge, PUM expert Lou has made an active and substantial contribution to the economic development of the Cauca region. The coffee and avocado plantations are also expected to reduce illegal crops like cocaine.
