The inaugural edition of CWS will take place from March 20 to 23 in Costa Rica. This is not a small step, it´s the big dream from Mariano Vargas for our coffee industry.
The coffee industry, traditionally steeped in convention, often sees global events organized from the top down – from buyers to the rest of the supply chain – making it challenging to address the needs of producers accurately. The Coffee World Summit aims to disrupt this pattern by being a global event where the entire coffee value chain is dedicated to discuss sciences, trends, and knowledge in coffee cultivation.
The focus is on ensuring that producers return to their farms with a renewed enthusiasm for innovation.
“Café World Summit is an event crafted by producers for the rest of the industry, with a powerful message: we could initiate change from the bottom up, we have enough capacities and we can work together,” said Mariano Vargas, coffee farmer and organizer of CWS 2024. The event’s vision is for producers to leave with more than just brochures and caps – they should witness in real-time what can be achieved on their farms, be motivated, and depart with all the necessary knowledge to grow and improve.
Organizers anticipate gathering over three thousand coffee professionals worldwide and the best experts to connect, learn, and experience, all while celebrating coffee culture. Registrations are still open through https://cafeworldsummit.com/ . Bandola Digital, a media partner of CWS, had an in-depth conversation with Mariano Vargas, and here’s what he shared
BD: How did the idea for the event originate?
It began in 2016, during a gathering of producers in a coffee farm community hall, over a meal of chicken and rice. We started creating dialogue tables and safe spaces for discussion where everyone could raise their hand and ask questions – unbiased, objective spaces, devoid of any agenda other than making decisions on the farm.
Three years later (2019), we entered into a public-private agreement with the University of Costa Rica (UCR). That’s when we saw the opportunity for the event to serve as a form of accountability, presenting everything we were doing in a language suitable for producers. We began to receive significant interest not only from sponsors eager to collaborate but also from academia. Seeing a great opportunity, we scaled it regionally in 2024.
BD: It starts with the -Techfarm experience on a farm. Can you tell us about the dynamics?
This journey is caused by La Hilda farm in the Central Valley region, an iconic regional farm with 14 hectares of demonstrative plots featuring specialists from around the world. We strategically placed trials and experiments around to serve as a prelude to what we will present at the congress.
Since mid-last year, many companies have started setting up their demonstrative plots. The UCR also has a space where they will gather real-time information, showcasing what they have accomplished in the last six months with sensors. We’ll have working machinery, drones, and a nearby greenhouse – discussing substrates, nurseries, and early stages of the plantation. We aim to make it engaging to gather information, acting as an appetizer for the main event on March 21 and 22. Groups of 20 to 25 people will move through each station, completing the tour by lunchtime.
Take note
Where? Costa Rica Convention Center, San José
When? 20-23 March
How? https://cafeworldsummit.com/
BD: The next two days include the “Foro al grano,” “Café Growers Hub,” and “Brewer’s Cup.” Will these run concurrently?
Yes, indeed. “Foro al grano” will feature industry leaders delivering dynamic forum-style conferences. A dedicated team carefully selects the best topics and speakers, ensuring presentations are not overloaded with slides but instead follow a dynamic forum format, akin to community halls. Right next to it, we’ll have the “Café Growers Hub,” the commercial space, the stand area where sponsors will showcase their products or technologies. It’s like going to a mall – it’s crucial to step out of the farm to see this. There will also be a stage hosting the preliminary rounds of the Brewers’ Championship or infusions.
This setup helps producers understand where their coffee is headed, the potential of the beans they are producing, and how it might end up in a national or global championship, gaining significant recognition. This integration of the chain is crucial to help producers understand what’s happening in the bars, and people from the bars understand what’s happening on the farm. All four events aim to bridge the gap in a community that sometimes operates in silos, bringing them together.
BD: If there are still undecided producers, give us three reasons why they should attend the CWS.
First, I want them to witness in real time what they can achieve on their farms and enjoy conferences where they can ask questions. We will start by discussing the green pact and the new requirements that the European market will enforce from December 2024. There are so many restrictions, but it’s because it will be much more attractive in terms of value. We don’t have to do more than we already have done, if not it will be more expensive, but we need to meet certain requirements and seize this opportunity Europe is offering to produce with low emissions and zero deforestation.
Second, it’s an event organized in a very authentic way by a group of producers who want attendees to have ample information and knowledge to make informed decisions when they return home. And third, it’s a chance to reconnect. The producer sector has few opportunities to meet, and I believe it’s a moment to resume the conversations we’ve had in the past and have a meeting point. The CWS is precisely that – a secure moment, a place to share and rekindle many relationships that we have left behind.
BD: How many companies and institutions are supporting the event so far? What comes after the CWS?
Co-organizers include UCR, ICAFÉ, Sintercafé, Fine Coffees Association, and the Convention Center. Supporting institutions are the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, OIRSA, FAO, Procomer, and the Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia. As for what comes next, we aim to have a high-quality event to build trust and ensure the event’s continuity every two years.
Who is Mariano Vargas?
Farmer, Agricultural engineer, Production Manager of the renowned La Hilda coffee farm (320 hectares), and a professor at the University EARTH in Costa Rica. Mariano is a member of the organizing committee of #CSW2024 and belongs to the fourth generation of coffee producers in the Santa Eduviges company founded by his great-grandfather. The Vargas family has been producing coffee for 100 years and processing, roasting, and exporting for over 60 years.
