De La Salle University’s Food and Water Institute study is recommending an 8-point policy to boost the coffee industry after the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic.
The La Salle Food and Water Institute study addresses the fact that the Philippine coffee sector’s labor force including farmers, producers, traders, roasters, shop owners, baristas, equipment distributors, and training schools, were severely affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
DLSU partnered with Philippine Coffee Guild (PGC) to gather data from across the chain to develop a policy brief that would aid legislators, authorities, and entrepreneurs in understanding where the coffee industry lies during this crisis.
The policy brief also provides recommendations to DTI’s 2017 Policy brief challenges such as lack of coordination among industry stakeholders and gaps in the collection and distribution of research and technical knowledge.
The DLSU policy brief recommends at the agency-level the following:
- stimulating current and future demand to address the new normal’s safety protocols brought about by changes and/or decrease of in-store sales;
- encouraging flexible lease terms with landlords and providing grants/loans/tax holidays;
- boosting and establishing security for online payment platforms;
- supporting research and innovation to increase product value, which also caters to further efficiency and safety of products;
- facilitating movement of farm produce, establishing and enforcing Fair Prices for and trading of green coffee beans;
- providing support and assistance to café employees;
- banning collection, consumption, and sale of coffee defecated by animals, especially since infections can be transmitted from animals to humans;
- establishing a microtask force specifically for the coffee industry that is in line with the Philippine coffee road map.
DLSU teacher and communications officer of the Philippine Coffee Guild Sylvelyn Jo Almanzol presented the 8-point policy brief in her article “When Coffee takes a Break”.
“It is important then to find more humane ways to address the break of the industry under this crisis and collaborative work among participants of the industry might just be what is needed to push for better policies that benefit across the chain,” said Almanzol.
Philippine coffee, particularly Sagada and Bukidnon coffee, won the 2019 International Contest of Coffees Roasted in Milan.
Top Filipino barista Michael Harris Lim showcased Philippine coffee in the World Barista Championships 2019 while Timothy John Sahagun Sabandal won the Asia Pacific championship title at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s 13th International Barista Championships.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to De La Salle University for releasing its study that recommends ways to boost the Philippine coffee industry amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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