Pachamama Coffee, renowned for its sustainable practices in the coffee industry, was honored with the prestigious Sustainability Pioneer award at the 2024 Sustainable Food Awards in Amsterdam. This accolade celebrates the company’s nearly two-decade-long commitment to redefining sustainability through its unique Farmer Owned business model.
Established in 2006, Pachamama Coffee was founded to empower coffee farmers beyond the role of commodity producers. Today, the cooperative maintains 100% ownership and governance, democratically managed by its member cooperatives — Cocla in Peru, Prodecoop in Nicaragua, Manos Campesinas in Guatemala, La Union Regional in Mexico, and Ocfcu in Ethiopia.
Each cooperative elects a representative to Pachamama’s Board of Directors, ensuring each has an equal voice in the company’s direction.
Pachamama’s business model shifts the narrative for coffee farmers, allowing them to set their own prices and ensuring that all profits are reinvested back into the cooperatives. This structure not only supports economic empowerment but also reinforces sustainable agricultural practices.
Pachamama Coffee: Reasserting a commitment to sustainability
The company’s commitment to sustainability extends to its packaging solutions, employing plant-based and compostable materials to mitigate single-use waste.
Ed Alagozian, Chief Operating Officer of Pachamama Coffee, expressed his pride in receiving the award, which he dedicated to the cooperative’s leadership and farmer-owners. “This recognition underscores our impactful model and commitment to not only producing exceptional coffee but also advancing global sustainability,” stated Alagozian.
Pachamama’s broader environmental strategy includes certified organic and shade-grown coffee that preserves biodiversity and supports organic land management. By forgoing harsh chemicals and honoring natural ecosystems, Pachamama’s farming practices enhance soil health and reduce carbon emissions, contributing to carbon sequestration.
Merling Preza, Co-Founder and Board President, highlighted the cooperative’s direct-to-consumer approach as a key to their success. “Our mission was clear from the start — to shorten the supply chain by connecting responsible producers with consumers in the North, thus maximizing profits for our farmers and delivering premium organic coffee directly to consumers.”
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