Advancing Dialogue on Living Income at GCP10 and SCTA 2026
How can Responsible Purchasing Practices strengthen farmers' livelihoods and long-term coffee supply? During several coffee events in Switzerland, taking place from Sep 28th – Oct 2nd (“Swiss Coffee Week”), SASI joined discussions at GCP's 10th anniversary and the SCTA Coffee Forum, exploring how long-term partnerships, collaboration and responsible procurement can contribute to living incomes and resilient coffee supply chains.
Representing the German Retailers Working Group on Living Incomes in the Coffee Sector, the Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains Initiatve (SASI) participated at two events held as part of Swiss Coffee Week: The Global Coffee Platform's (GCP) tenth anniversary celebration in Geneva on 30 September and the Coffee Forum of the Swiss Coffee Trade Association (SCTA) in Montreux on 1–2 October 2026. SASI joined sector discussions and explored opportunities for collaboration across the coffee supply chain.
Long-Term Partnerships for Resilient Supply Chains
The SCTA Forum brings together actors from the international coffee trade for panel discussions, seminar sessions and exchange. Under the theme “Performance Unlocked: Winning & Leading in the New Coffee Economy”, discussions addressed business strategies, public-private collaboration and the role of procurement, including its links to European Due Diligence Regulations.
The panels highlighted the importance of long-term trading relationships for improving farmers' livelihoods and securing a reliable future supply of coffee. Purchasing decisions shape farmers’ ability to earn a decent living, invest in their farms and sustain production over time. In this context, discussions also addressed the need to make coffee farming an attractive livelihood for younger generations.
The panel “Sourcing with Purpose” explored this connection in particular: Procurement plays a role in building tomorrow's supply. Alongside pricing, reliability and transparency were highlighted as essential conditions for long-term planning. Discussions also emphasized the importance of sustained engagement with producers: While individual projects can drive change, long-term sourcing relationships are key to embedding progress in core business practices. These discussions offered direct links to the German Retailers Working Group's efforts to strengthen Responsible Purchasing Practices and promote Living Incomes. Together with GCP, IDH, Solidaridad and Sustainable Food Lab (SFL), the German Retailers Working Group initiated the development of a Coffee Sector Guidance for Responsible Procurement, which was announced at the GCP's anniversary celebration by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Strengthening Collaboration Across the Value Chain
Discussions on the implementation of the EUDR also highlighted the need for coordinated approaches. Traceability, interoperability between systems and dialogue between institutions in Europe and particularly in producing countries were central topics. For the German Retailers Working Group, these discussions reinforced the relevance of collaboration across organizations and different segments of the coffee value chain. Through exchanges with supply chain actors, Civil Society organizations and sustainability initiatives, SASI, on behalf of the German Retailers Working Group, explored synergies and potential for concrete collaboration around living income and Responsible Purchasing Practices.
The insights and connections provide a basis for continued dialogue and collaboration. The German Retailers Working Group’s focus remains on strengthening Responsible Purchasing Practices across the coffee supply chain and supporting progress towards living incomes for coffee producers.