In observance of World Food Day this week, BCLC is spotlighting an interesting case study about food security, submitted by Michael Dupee, VP of CSR for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. The case study appears in BCLC's new publication called "The Role of Business in Emerging Markets."
A 13-country food security partnership stemmed from the company simply asking, “what social challenges exist in our supply chain?” Here's insight into GMCR’s food security work in coffee-growing regions around the world:
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters’ (GMCR’s) deep and vested interest in reducing hunger and actively assisting food security projects in coffee-growing regions around the world was ignited and is fueled by our understanding of los meses flacos, or “the thin months”: a harsh reality faced annually by people integral to its supply chain. Between harvests, many coffee-growing communities struggle with hunger as their money and supplies run low and they often cope by eating less; buying cheaper, less healthy foods; or borrowing against future earnings to make ends meet.
Supply Chain Partners -- GMCR first learned about the thin months through its efforts in 2006 and 2007 to better understand the social challenges in its supply chain. That research prompted GMCR to reevaluate its criteria for making grants in coffee-growing communities. Today, food security is a primary focus of GMCR’s supply chain outreach program, which seeks to fund work that directly benefits local communities in its supply chain on key sustainability challenges.
Food Security -- GMCR supports food security programs managed by non-governmental organizations and coffee cooperatives in its supply chain and estimates that these programs have reached more than 58,000 families in 13 countries since GMCR began this journey in 2007. Recently GMCR has renewed multi-year commitments with its partners in East Africa, Indonesia, and Latin America to strengthen rural livelihoods and improve reliable access to healthy food.
In order to effectively address food security, GMCR consults directly with those affected by the thin months to determine the most pressing issues they face and the most realistic and sustainable ways to tackle them. This approach, rather than assuming what is most important to the communities or attempting to solve a specific problem the company is interested in, yields the most potent and enduring results.
Additionally, GMCR has found that partnering with other organizations is the most effective way to support coffee-growing communities and help farming families become more self-sufficient. GMCR has partnered with Heifer International, CIAT, Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children, Coffee Kids, The Coffee Trust, and Mercy Corps, among others, to improve access to nutritious food in coffee-growing communities throughout the year. Ultimately, a strong supply chain is a prerequisite for a healthy business and GMCR works with the communities in its supply chain to address the challenges posed by los meses flacos.
Related: The Role of Business in Emerging Markets
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