Keurig Dr Pepper and Root Capital, an investment company focusing on smallholder farmers, announced today the launch of the Indonesia Coffee Enterprise Resilience Initiative in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Coffee farming communities in Indonesia face several crises including market volatility, climate change, and gender inequity, among others. Across Aceh, East Java, and North Sumatra, the initiative will support 14 coffee enterprises reaching 14,000 smallholder farmers as they promote sustainable economic growth that balances the needs of the community and the planet.
"A lack of business management skills and access to credit impedes coffee enterprises from harnessing their full potential for growth,” said USAID Indonesia Mission Director Jeffery P. Cohen in a statement. “USAID's collaboration with Root Capital and Keurig Dr Pepper will expand public-private capacity and commitment to strengthening and increasing inclusive economic growth, as well as prioritizing investment in women's economic empowerment and building resilience against climate change."
By leveraging support from USAID, Keurig Dr. Pepper, and Root Capital, the coffee initiative intends to:
• Expand access to financial enterprises that otherwise cannot acquire lines of credit or business education opportunities,
• Strengthen gender equity by equipping women with proper tools and working with businesses to expand gender-inclusive practices,
• Implement digital solutions to improve business management and resilience,
• Deepen climate action in the coffee industry focused on mitigating climate change, protecting vulnerable ecosystems, and supporting rural communities as they adapt to climate impacts.
"It is through the power of collective action and our long-standing USAID and Root Capital partners that we are able to invest in impactful and innovative solutions that help address the challenges facing smallholder coffee growers," said Keurig Dr Pepper's SVP & chief sustainably officer, Monique Oxender, in a statement.
Related: Hershey Announces First Bilingual U.S. Plant; NielsenIQ: Sustainability in CPG to Become Bigger Priority