Producer & Roaster Forum has announced a multi-year sponsorship deal with Belco, a renowned green coffee importer based in France. The company is dedicated to sourcing high-quality, sustainably produced coffee directly from farmers, ensuring fair trade practices and fostering long-term relationships with coffee producers. As part of the deal, Belco will serve as the official sponsor of the Soil of Excellence competition at the next three PRF: Farm Summits.

Belco

Belco was founded in 2014. Seven years after its inception, the company embarked on a new chapter, shifting from a traditional business approach to a model centred around three core values: quality, traceability, and transparency. At the time, artisan roasters were in decline, and Belco aimed to revitalize the industry by promoting these values.

Commitment to Sustainability and Impact

Belco is committed to securing a future for producers, roasters, and chocolatiers by building sustainable supply chains today. For Belco, sustainability means understanding the impact of their actions and purchases to ensure workers receive fair wages in a protected environment. In a world where resources and the capacity to absorb human pollution are reaching their limits, Belco strives to contribute to a regenerative dynamic and limit its impact through solutions that work with nature, supported by its partners.

Soil of Excellence Championship by Belco

The Soil of Excellence competition will evaluate soils using Pfeiffer chromatography, assessing both soil quality and coffee cupping results. Participants will have their soils analyzed and scored based on soil health and cupping scores. “The Soil of Excellence competition is designed to emphasize the pivotal influence of soil health on the production of high-quality coffee. This competition seeks to set new benchmarks in sustainable coffee cultivation practices,” says Arnaud Causse, Director of Agroecological Transition at Belco.

Belco at PRF: Farm Summit

Belco’s first event as the Official Soil of Excellence Competition Sponsor will be PRF: Farm Summit 2024, taking place on 17 and 18 October at Hacienda Cafetera La Pradera in Santander, Colombia. Belco will also participate in PRF Voices, the lecture and panel series held across both days of each PRF event. They will join a panel discussion entitled “Resilient Systems: Nature as the Coffee Farmer’s Best Ally,” led by Arnaud Causse.