Skills training and technological tools will be provided to 1,000 young coffee farmers in areas of Colombia that were previously affected by conflict. The initiative was launched in partnership Starbucks and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This is one part of a range of measures which the coffee chain says forms part of its commitment to sourcing ethical and sustainable coffee.

Starbucks claimed the support would help young coffee farmers build greater resiliency and expertise; and vowed to continue creating opportunities in some of Colombia’s most vulnerable coffee-growing communities. The firm will also contribute $2 million to a farmer loan program focused on smallholder women coffee farmers in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Starbucks is also working with the IDB to contribute to the economic and social empowerment of 2,000 women-led smallholder coffee growers in the states of Antioquia and Chocó.