友邦行動日誌:宏都拉斯的精品咖啡再升級 × 傑恩咖啡|影響力先行者計畫

上一篇友邦行動日誌「打造零售產業的全新樣貌 × 凌網科技」,我們瞭解到援外行動需要相互理解,並克服「文化」、「思考」與「習慣」上的差異,才能讓行動落地與發揮影響力!這一次將透過傑恩咖啡前往宏都拉斯的出訪紀錄,帶大家來瞭解「影響力如何從產地出發,改變整體咖啡產業結構及提升經濟價值!」

不僅限於短期的服務行動,也不只著力於當地缺乏的東西,「傑恩咖啡」在乎的是創造產業的永續價值,並打破結構性的貧困循環。

假設今天你是咖啡貿易商,除了利潤,還有什麼是你更看重的價值呢?從合理的經濟利潤角度出發,都知道壓低成本才能獲取最大利益,出比市售價格更高的價錢,這無疑是一筆不划算的買賣!然而,隨著永續消費的意識抬頭,大眾關心的不只是價格,而是價值!當貿易商採購小農咖啡豆時,更應該從咖啡豆本身的品質進行合理定價,不僅符合消費者的品味需求,也為小農改善收入,成為脫貧與生存的永續發展機會;但到底該如何協助資源相較匱乏的小農提升種豆品質呢?

傑恩咖啡團隊本次投入宏都拉斯的國際援助行動,就是要突破宏國咖啡小農的生產與銷售困境,並非只是一次性的短期服務行動,他們將自己定位為國際援助工作者,重視咖啡小農家戶的「永續生產與價值」!透過傑恩咖啡本身在世界咖啡賽事的專業及得獎經驗,致力於提升宏都拉斯小農的咖啡生豆品質,並建構高品質咖啡生豆的貿易供需網絡,以增加宏國咖啡生豆於市場的經濟價值,突破當地咖啡小農家戶結構性的貧困循環!

打破經濟發展困境的關鍵在於「教人如何釣魚而非直接給魚」,並從教人釣魚的過程中,發現援外行動的永續價值及社會影響力!

傑恩咖啡團隊堅信,只有與當地利害關係人建立深度連結,才能瞭解在地的咖啡產業結構,並創造永續發展的經濟價值,否則行動方案永遠只會停留在「直接給魚而非教人如何釣魚」的階段。宏都拉斯的咖啡產量是中美地區之冠,約佔其國內生產毛額(GDP)的五成比例,但與其他咖啡產地國相比,宏都拉斯咖啡的印象以「小農」為主要特色,相較其他國家的火山咖啡,藝妓咖啡等行銷主軸,缺乏展現品牌價值的國際能見度,其次宏國小農咖啡受限於品質控管及採購機制不夠成熟完善,近年來咖啡銷售價格仍有大幅成長空間。

因此,傑恩咖啡團隊導入「Just Go Origin 從產地起跑計畫」,提供當地咖啡合作社品管設備及檢測技術的培訓課程,透過課程協助宏國咖啡小農,紀錄、檢測及把關其咖啡生豆的種植品質。而訓練課程也特別保留女性咖啡小農的參與名額,藉此增加宏國女性的受僱率,提供女性經濟自主獨立的機會,以改善當地男女就業率失衡,及女性社經地位偏低的社會發展現況。

很多時候我們可能會認為自己一直在「給予」,但其實同時也是「得到」,並於合作關係中塑造出一個良善的循環,以撼動既有的產業體系。

傑恩咖啡的創辦人王詩如不僅是 2013 年臺灣烘豆大賽冠軍,更是 2011 年美國精品咖啡協會(SCAA)舉辦之年度烘豆師大賽的亞軍得主,她深知咖啡賽事對品質的高標準,每年為在咖啡賽事中取得佳績為臺灣爭光,會採購數量可觀的咖啡生豆,而為了促成宏國咖啡產業的良性循環,透過導入咖啡行動實驗室的品質培訓與控管,宏國在地咖啡小農可獲得競賽豆保證採購合約,讓影響力從宏都拉斯產地開始發酵!

臺灣咖啡市場在各大超商及 Cama Cafe、路易莎咖啡與星巴克等連鎖咖啡品牌的帶動下掀起了「全民咖啡」的熱潮,而隨著精品咖啡的需求不斷增加,越來越多人開始關注咖啡豆的風味與產地,也讓咖啡市場更趨於成熟蓬勃;臺灣咖啡師近年更是積極參加國際咖啡賽事,並年年獲得亮眼成績,而臺灣的咖啡產量有限,因此對於臺灣來說,透過技術與經驗的輔導海外咖啡小農,協助友邦咖啡產業發展,滿足國內日益龐大的咖啡市場需求,絕對是多贏的最佳做法!

Agriculture and Rural Development

  1. Honduras: There is a huge gap between urban and rural areas in Honduras. Importing agricultural machinery to enhance agro-business efficiency and developing agro-products (such as avocado derivatives) and their markets are necessary for Honduras. In addition, Taiwanese enterprises and organizations have the potential to assist the rural economy by promoting the traditional and unique culture of Honduras, due to its indigenous culture, textiles, and pottery, which are attractive to international tourists.

  2. Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis: The tourism industry is a keystone of the national development vision of St. Christopher and Nevis. However, tourism to the country is still underdeveloped. Taiwan has had a successful experience applying the cultural and creative industries to tourism over many years. Taiwanese enterprises are able to apply Taiwanese models to improve the processing techniques for agro-products and create brands with local features. In addition, they could also assist SMEs with the provision of loans or technologies.

Climate Change and Sustainable Environment

  1. Haiti: Charcoal is Haiti’s primary fuel, but the process of charcoal production continues to damage the forests. Even while the country’s forest coverage rate has fallen to 5%, Haitian’s still choose charcoal, causing significantly greater environmental damage, rather than using the higher-priced gas fuel. Rice is the main food crop in Haiti, and converting rice straw into biofuel is practical and has long been studied in Taiwan. It would be a remarkable and breakthrough if the techniques of converting rice straw into biomass fuels could be applied in Haiti.

  2. Belize: Since many rural villages in Belize are far away from the main water pipelines, local water corporations are unable to extend their services to those places. However, according to the Belize National Weather Service, rainfall from June to November in Belize is enough to cover local use if a rainwater storage system is constructed in rural villages. The TaiwanICDF hopes Taiwanese enterprises and organizations can combine local infrastructure and water purification systems to improve the accessibility of clean water resources in Belize.

Technologies in Education

  1. Saint Lucia: The TaiwanICDF is cooperating with the government of Saint Lucia on the Project for ICT in Education. However, the local primary and secondary schools as well as public libraries lack digital libraries and managerial systems, slowing the development of digital education and e-learning. Moreover, students’ written and artistic works are not effectively preserved or shared, an obstacle to the effective accumulation of experience and learning. There is a need for businesses and CSOs to find innovative solutions to these weaknesses.

  2. Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis: The Saint Kitts and Nevis government is putting more emphasis on educational technology resources for local elementary and middle schools and is focusing especially on mathematics and applied science. By promoting informatization and digitalization, and equipping them with educational technologies and resources, the TaiwanICDF expects to help more students align with global trends and widen their horizons.

Sustainable Economic Development

  1. Guatemala: Guatemala is known for its coffee, which is one of the major sources of the country’s economic development. As such, it is important to develop new approaches to post-harvest treatment and processing and to invest in the development of new coffee bean-related products to reduce waste from the production process. Sugarcane and maize are also important crops for Guatemala’s economy. Therefore, besides improving agricultural production and processing capabilities, strengthening the green economy and improved waste management are also necessary. Herein lies an opportunity for Taiwanese enterprises and organizations to invest in innovative technologies and practices that turn coffee grounds, bagasse, and corn grounds into gold.
  2. Guatemala: In Guatemala, indigenous women suffer from gender and racial inequality in work opportunities and wages. The Taiwanese enterprises and organizations could develop assistance in integrating community resources and lowering the barriers for women entrepreneurs with the provision of various gender-friendly business opportunities.

  3. Paraguay: In response to COVID-19, Paraguay is improving digitalization among its industries. The TaiwanICDF has launched the Project to Strengthen Capacity to Support Development of MSMEs in Paraguay, in order to expand and accelerate the growth of the fashion industry and its development. The TaiwanICDF encourages Taiwanese enterprises and organizations to bring over more digital resources and virtual tools, such as virtual fitting rooms and other marketing tools for a better online consumer experience.

鄉村與農業發展永續

  1. 宏都拉斯(Honduras):宏都拉斯的城鄉差距大,有導入小型農機增加農業經營效率、開發農產加工品(酪梨)及其市場的需求;另外當地原住民文化、織布、陶器更是觀光賣點,如何結合傳統特色發展鄉村產業,均可作為我國企業投入契機。
  2. 聖克里斯多福及尼維斯(Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis):觀光產業是聖克里斯多福及尼維斯的國家發展願景,但當地觀光特色開發不足,臺灣觀光文創產業經營多年,企業除可運用臺灣經驗,協助強化當地農產加工技術及推動品牌特色外,亦可提供微中小企業貸款,或運用數位科技強化產業體質。

氣候變遷與環境永續

  1. 海地(Haiti):海地當地天然資源以木炭為主要燃料,但木炭產製過程不斷造成森林消失,而在海地的森林覆蓋率僅剩5%時,當地又因瓦斯燃料進口費用高,致使一般民眾無法負擔,持續造成當地環境破壞。而稻米是海地主要糧食作物,稻稈變燃料在台灣早已不是新聞,如何導入生質燃料的綠金新商機對海地將是一大福音與突破。
  2. 貝里斯(Belize):許多貝里斯偏遠鄉村因遠離主要自來水管線,且當地自來水公司無法延伸服務範圍至偏遠地區。根據貝里斯國家氣象局的平均降雨量數據顯示6-11月有充足的降雨,應可發展雨水儲集系統解決部分供水需求,期待國內企業結合基礎設備建置,引進有效淨水過濾設備,協助改善當地水資源現況。

科技教育永續

  1. 聖露西亞(Saint Lucia):國合會與聖露西亞共同執行「資訊科技融入教學發展計畫」,但當地中小學及公共圖書館仍缺乏數位圖書館和歸檔的電子化系統,導致在數位科技教育領域的步調緩慢,同時學生過往的書面與藝術作品缺乏有效保存與分享方式,經驗不易累積與學習,需要企業與公民團體投入創新解決方案。
  2. 聖克里斯多福及尼維斯(Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis):聖克里斯多福及尼維斯當地中小學科技資源逐漸受到重視,特別在數學及科學領域的科技運用,希望透過資訊化及數位化,引進科技教學設備與資源,並協助更多學員接軌國際,打開更多科技教育的視野。

經濟發展永續

  1. 瓜地馬拉(Guatemala):的咖啡世界聞名,也是瓜國重要經濟來源,因此亟需導入採收後處理及加工處理新做法,以及投入帶豆仁咖啡豆新產品開發,以減少製程中廢棄物的產生;但不僅是咖啡,甘蔗及玉米也是當地重要經濟作物,因此除需加強農業生產與加工能力外,綠色經濟及廢棄物處理更是創新需求所在,如何將咖啡渣、蔗渣、玉米渣變黃金,都有賴臺灣企業夥伴投入創新技術與做法。
  2. 瓜地馬拉(Guatemala):受到種族與性別限制,瓜地馬拉原住民婦女無法於經濟活動中得到公平的機會與待遇,因此我國團隊可協助整合社區資源,降低婦女創業家進駐成為育成廠商之障礙,提供婦女創業家多元且友善之創業機會。
  3. 巴拉圭(Paraguay):因應新冠疫情,巴拉圭正全面提升產業數位化,國合會在當地推動微中小企業輔導體系能力建構計畫,協助時尚產業發展,為擴大與加速產業成長,建議我國企業夥伴可研擬導入數位試衣與其他可增加線上銷售體驗之工具,也期待未來有更多數位資源導入。