The president of the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock in Brazil (CNA), João Martins, participated in the opening of the International Cafe 2020 week, on Wednesday (18). The event, totally online, happens until Friday (20) and brings a series of activities, such as lectures, courses, workshops, seminars, tastings and barista competitions, as well as business opportunities. In his speech, Martins stated that Brazilian coffee farming faces the worst speech of the last 20 years, intensified by high temperatures.
“Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná and Rondônia are the most affected producing states. Although it is still early to quantify the losses for the 2021 harvest, the damage and loss of productivity for the next Brazilian harvest are real and irreversible, “he said.
According to the President of the CNA, the National Coffee Committee on CNA pleaded R $ 160 million in resources from the Coffee Economy Defense Fund (Funcafé), which will be intended for the recovery of coffee cafe and climatic weather.
Joao Martins also said that even in the face of the situation, Brazilian cafe competents demonstrated their reaction capacity. “We are sure that this effort will be reversed in earnings for the whole sector,” he said.
Already the president of the Faemg / Senar system and first Vice President of CNA, Roberto Simões, said that in this edition, the event brings to debate important themes such as sustainability, technology, innovation and value aggregation.
During the opening, Simões reported that next year the Center of Excellence in Cafeiculture will be inaugurated in the municipality of Varginha (MG). “Let’s radiate knowledge, technology and innovation for all Brazil and who knows for the world.”
In his speech, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Tereza Cristina, highlighted that Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of coffee in the world. “Our coffee farming is sustainable and excellent. Each consumer in the world drinks three cups per day and one of them comes from Brazil. “
The opening ceremony also counted on the online participation of the President of Sebrae National, Carlos Melles, of the Founder and Director of Café Editora, Caio Alonso Fontes, of Secretary of State of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply of Minas Gerais, Ana Maria Valentini, From the director of cafes of Nestlé, Raquel Muller, from the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeo Zema, and the president of the OCEMG system, Ronaldo Scuccato.
The International Coffee Week has been held since 2013 in Belo Horizonte. It is the biggest event in Brazilian cafe and one of the four largest coffee fairs in the world. In 2019, the event received 23 thousand visitors and moved more than R $ 50 million in business.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.