After getting oriented to the gigantic convention center, I located the session titled "Eastern African Sustainable Coffee Initiatives: Changing Farmers Lives through Coffee". The discussion echoed some of the conversation I'd had earlier with the growers from Brazil.

Moderated by Robert Nsibirwa of the Eastern African Fine Coffees Association (EAFCA), the session also featured Philip Gitao and James Kibera of EAFCA as well as Justin Archer of  Sangana Commodities Ltd and Mawenzi Coffee Exporters Ltd who gave short presentations on the initiatives with which they were involved. Robert and Philip described these interesting programs:

- Taste of Harvest, a cupping competition that seeks to promote appreciation of specialty coffee among producers and traders and rewards top quality producers at regional, national, and international levels.

- Know Your Cup Road Show, a series of practical cupping sessions that introduces farmers to quality in the cup and teaches them basic techniques of roasting, brewing and tasting with equipment readily available at home.

- Limited Edition Coffee Auctions (LECA), a new auction system that helps farmers sell their coffees for the highest prices possible. The first annual LECA generated prices of up to $5 per pound for coffees that had previously sold for $1.45 per pound.

Justin Archer discussed a new role that traders could assume in the era of sustainable coffee, in which traders treat farmers as clients, moving out of the role of speculator and more into the role of project coordinator and logistics manager. As such, the traders must keep in mind that what is good for the farmer is good for trade, for the industry and for the consumer - a more holistic view.

Each of the speakers ended by offering an invitation to all to the 5th African Fine Coffee Conference & Exhibition next February in Kampala, Uganda. I'm tempted.