On last Thursday (03/16), the 1st Mutua Project Awards – Forests and Springs took place, where coffee farmers participating in the Project received bonuses for the quantity of bags commercialized with Atlantica Coffee.
The Mutua Project – Forests and Springs aims to implement sustainable practices in the coffee properties of producers in the Matas de Minas region at no cost, meaning that all improvements are 100% funded by the Project’s creator, Atlantica Coffee.
With the goal of recovering and protecting the region’s native forests and existing springs on the property, the Mutua Project currently covers 19 coffee farmers, 12 of whom have already been awarded the value of US$3.00 per commercialized bag – as stated in the regulations.
It is important to note that the participating coffee farmer is not obliged to commercialize their coffee with Atlantica Coffee. The Project’s creator company offers support to implement sustainable practices in coffee properties of producers, but the coffee commercialization is a choice of the coffee farmers. The bonus for the quantity of sacks commercialized with Atlantica is just one way of encouraging their stay on the path of sustainable coffee farming.
The award ceremony took place in Alto Jequitibá, where coffee farmers received their respective bonuses and were able to share their experiences with the Project so far. The ceremony was opened by Rodrigo Montesanto, CEO of Atlantica Coffee and also a participant in the Project, who emphasized the importance of sustainability for Brazilian coffee farming in his speech.
Next, Roney Gonçalves, the overall responsible for the Project, brought information that shows the global concern about sustainable coffee farming – from new consumption habits to legislations that are increasingly strong and present in the coffee scenario – also showing the impacts that Project actions have on the social, environmental, and economic aspects of the region.
Immediately after, the Sustainability Coordinator of Montesanto Tavares Group, Thiago Franco, began the awards, inviting each of the participants.
The participants’ awards are an important demonstration of the Project’s initiatives’ success. The bonus offered by Atlantica is a way of recognizing the effort and commitment to the sustainable development of Brazilian coffee farming. When sustainability comes into play, the result is a mutual gain!