Dubai – August 2025 (Qahwa World) – The Circular Economy Working Group, part of the ITC Coffee Guide Network, held its July meeting on the 16th with over 40 participants from across the global coffee sector. The session focused on regenerative agriculture as a key circular economy practice in coffee, featuring real-world insights from Kenya and Brazil and in-depth discussion on farmer profitability, environmental stewardship, and value chain innovation.
The meeting began with updates on recent initiatives by the Center for Circular Economy in Coffee (C4CEC), including the success of a regional webinar with the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) that drew 113 participants — the highest attendance to date. The group also highlighted its active presence at World of Coffee Geneva and announced a new global webinar series running from September to December 2025.
Guest Speakers Share Ground-Level Innovation
Three guest speakers shared their perspectives and fieldwork:
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David Lenny Waweru, Kenyan farmer and owner of Ruwawa Farm, introduced his circular “farm engine” model, which uses a biogas digester to produce cooking gas and organic fertilizer. The system cut chemical fertilizer use by 70–80%, increased yields by up to 15%, and generated 20% of revenue through diversified crops.
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Luiza Mantiça Kreimeier, Technical Advisor at Brazil’s National Coffee Council (CNC), presented Brazil’s national circular economy strategy with a focus on the “Coffee Producer of Water” program. The initiative promotes soil and water conservation and rewards farmers financially through environmental service payments.
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Natalia Fernandes Carr, ESG Manager at Cooxupé (Brazil’s largest coffee cooperative), shared the cooperative’s regenerative agriculture program involving resistant cultivars, composting, biofertilizers, and a three-year impact assessment project. She also discussed ongoing research into water reuse and alternative uses for coffee byproducts.
Key Themes from the Discussion
The open discussion addressed critical questions:
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How can regenerative agriculture create income for farmers?
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What mechanisms exist — or need to be developed — to reward farmers for sustainable practices?
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What knowledge gaps must be filled to scale these practices globally?
Speakers emphasized:
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The importance of diversification (e.g., beekeeping, agroforestry, livestock) as a resilience strategy.
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The potential of biochar to rebuild degraded soils and improve water retention, despite current logistical and adoption challenges.
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The need for systemic value chain support to commercialize innovations like carbon crediting, composting, and product traceability.
Participants from Uganda, Peru, and Ethiopia shared regional experiences, reinforcing the global relevance of regenerative models and the need for shared learning.
Action Points and What’s Next
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Participants were invited to complete and distribute two industry surveys on spent coffee grounds:
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The group encouraged members to share ideas, propose speakers, and nominate regenerative practices for inclusion in C4CEC’s list of good practices.
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The next working group meeting will take place on September 4, 2025, focusing on biochar and its role in regenerative agriculture.
📌 Interested participants can join the LinkedIn group for continued discussions and resources.
