The FNC receives important sustainability and quality awards from the coffee industry

Rainforest Alliance, the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) and the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) have honored Colombian coffee growers

BOGOTÁ, Colombia, May 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In recent weeks, the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) has received important sustainability and quality awards from key players in the global coffee industry such as Rainforest Alliance, the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI), and the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).

Last week, on May 9, the FNC received one of the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Standard-Setters Awards for its exceptional commitment to sustainability, improving coffee farmers' livelihoods, and conserving forests.

Since its creation in 1927, the FNC has worked to improve quality of life of the over 540,000 coffee-growing families it represents nowadays. "For Colombian coffee farmers, sustainability is closely linked to their raison d'être. So much so that over 236,000 coffee farms in Colombia meet some sustainability standard, and by 2027, when the FNC becomes 100 years old, we aspire to make all Colombian coffee sustainable," said the FNC CEO, Roberto Vélez, upon receiving the recognition on behalf of the Colombian coffee growers.

"The individuals, communities, and businesses we have highlighted are working to address the significant and related challenges of climate change, rural poverty, and biodiversity loss. Their work has resulted in real changes on the ground, and is helping to improve conditions for farmers and forest communities," said Han de Groot, the Rainforest Alliance CEO.

CQI 2018 Leadership Medal of Merit

On April 21 in Seattle, during its annual luncheon, the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) awarded its 2018 Leadership Medal of Merit, in the corporate category, to the FNC, honoring its commitment of over 90 years to improving farmers' livelihoods, fostering sustainability, and increasing coffee quality, helping to strengthen the Colombian coffee sector as a whole.

"Thanks in large part to the work of the FNC, quality and sustainability are not recent trends for Colombian coffee growers," said CQI Executive Director, David Roche. "These have been a priority for over 90 years, along with differentiating quality, adding value, and staying ahead of the curve on economic, social and environmental practices."

"We receive this recognition with double gratitude: firstly, for the prestige of CQI in the global coffee industry, and secondly, because it comes at a crucial time, when we redouble efforts to increase sustainability of coffee farmers not only in Colombia, but in the world, with an approach of shared responsibility of all actors in the chain," said Vélez, the FNC CEO, on behalf of all Colombian producers.