APROCASSI: Charting a course towards excellence and sustainability in coffee farming

In February and March, the APROCASSI Cooperative, based in the province of San Ignacio, Cajamarca region, concluded the second workshop for the development of its Strategic Plan, led by a consultancy team headed by Dr Oscar Inocente. This marked another milestone in its institutional history, with the support of Terra Nuova as part of the BLF Andes Amazon project, led by Practical Action. During these days of collective work, members, managers and the technical team defined a roadmap with 12 objectives and 39 strategies aimed at improving families’ quality of life, ensuring sustainable production and optimising finances and market access. 

Innovation in the Field: The Foundation of Quality

To ensure the longevity of the farms, the plan establishes a precision agriculture strategy. Through soil analysis and fertilisation programmes using certified inputs, the aim is to optimise resources and enhance the cup profile. The renewal of coffee plantations with improved, rust-tolerant varieties is not merely a technical measure; it is our response to strengthening climate resilience. Furthermore, the modernisation of drying infrastructure and strict control of organic traceability and compliance with EUDR regulations ensure that every APROCASSI bean is an ambassador of authenticity in the world’s most demanding markets.

A Chain of Value: From the Plot to the Global Market

The Strategic Plan functions as a living system where each component enhances the next: Commercial Strength: We seek to diversify into new, emerging and competitive markets and consolidate business units such as honey and cocoa. Operational Efficiency: The implementation of ERP systems and monthly cost monitoring ensure transparent and professional management. Financial Resilience: Through risk hedging and internal capitalisation programmes, we protect our partners’ efforts against market volatility.

The Heart of the Strategy: Inclusion and Governance

Sustainability is not possible without generational renewal and equity. For this reason, the creation of the Leadership Training School and the active integration of young people and women are central pillars. We want the voice of every member family to be the driving force behind our participatory governance.

On the environmental front, APROCASSI reaffirms its identity as guardians of the ecosystem through the implementation of Agroforestry Systems (AFS) using native species and a firm stance on political advocacy against illegal mining. Defending our territory is defending our way of life.

From Planning to Action:

This plan is not just on paper. Thirty-nine concrete strategies have been identified, with designated leads and defined timelines. From demonstration plots to marketing campaigns based on our success stories, every step is designed to create a multiplier effect.

At APROCASSI, they understand that excellence in speciality coffee is the means, but the holistic well-being of families is the end. This joint effort is proof that, when technical expertise is combined with passion and collective effort, sustainable development ceases to be a goal and becomes our everyday reality.

 

The workshop combined technical rigour with playful and participatory activities, creating an atmosphere of trust and enthusiasm that encouraged the participation of members and managers, enabling the successful integration of practical field experience with the strategic vision necessary for APROCASSI’s future.

 

In this regard, Terra Nuova and the APROCASSI Cooperative, as part of the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF Andes Amazon) project– led by Practical Action and funded by UK International Development – are working to promote sustainable coffee production, improve producers’ livelihoods and boost competitiveness.