In 2025, we proudly hosted the 3rd SCTA Next Gen Sustainability Contest, continuing our commitment to empowering the next generation of changemakers and supporting innovative initiatives that help shape a smart and connected future for coffee.

This year’s contest once again showcased the creativity, dedication, and impact-driven thinking emerging across our industry. Following a competitive selection process, three outstanding finalists were invited to pitch their initiatives live, sharing how their projects are tackling real challenges and creating meaningful change throughout the coffee value chain.

It was great to hear from:

• Haiya Zhang from ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. Ltd., presenting an initiative focused on improving opportunities and inclusion for hearing-impaired youth in coffee-growing communities in China.
• Lorenz Buser from Cotierra, showcasing his work toward building more connected and sustainable sourcing models.
• Daniel Cação Motta from COFCO International, sharing insights into innovative approaches aimed at strengthening long-term resilience in the coffee sector.

Each finalist inspired us with their vision, passion, and commitment to bettering our industry through thoughtful and forward-looking solutions.

Following the live pitches, attendees voted for their preferred initiative, and the winner was announced during the event. We are incredibly proud to congratulate Haiya Zhang from ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. Ltd. as the winner of the 3rd SCTA Next Gen Sustainability Contest, receiving the CHF 41,000 prize. We look forward to seeing how her project continues to support hearing‑impaired youth in coffee‑producing communities across China.

A heartfelt thank you goes to all finalists for their inspiring contributions, as well as to everyone who participated and voted.

This contest would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, whose commitment continues to drive sustainability and innovation across the coffee sector:

Coffee Champions
JDE Peet’s, Sucafina, UCC Coffee Switzerland AG, ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. Ltd., Coffee Trading Academy, LLC

Bean Backers
Group Sopex, Cargill

Seedling Sponsors
Hamburg Coffee Company, Racafé, Touton Group

We are deeply grateful for their continued partnership and support.

As we reflect on another successful edition, we look forward to building on this momentum and are excited to see how future editions of the SCTA Next Gen Sustainability Contest will continue to inspire collaboration and innovation throughout the global coffee community.

In 2024, we proudly hosted the 2nd SCTA Next Gen Sustainability Contest, reaffirming our commitment to supporting innovative initiatives that contribute to the future of coffee sustainability.

With generous sponsorship from SCTA and a distinguished group of coffee industry leaders including JDE Peet’s, Touton SA, Ecom, Alois Dallmayr, Hamburg Coffee Company, Louis Dreyfus, Terracore, Enveritas, Sucafina, UCC Switzerland, Vidya, Keurig Dr. Pepper, ofi, and the Coffee Trading Academy, we were able to continue fostering impactful sustainability efforts.

Following a competitive call for proposals, we received an impressive number of submissions. After careful evaluation by the Council and representatives from our sponsor companies, the following three finalists were selected:

• Carole Hemmings from TechnoServe, with her project Vetiver Wetland, an innovative and cost-effective method for treating coffee wastewater.
• Marcela Jaramillo from Foundation Local Partners, with Generative Transformation through Biofactories, a project aiming to revolutionize sustainable agricultural practices.
• Louisa Marie Truss from Elucid, with GROW, an initiative promoting good health to enhance coffee farmer resilience.

The finalists were invited to pitch their initiatives live on stage in Basel at the 15th SCTA Forum & Dinner – you can check out their presentations here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYtm3TN1tQQ

Attendees of the 15th SCTA Forum & Dinner had the opportunity to vote for their favorite initiatives through the SCTA Connect app. The winner was announced during the SCTA Coffee Dinner on Friday evening.

We are thrilled to announce that Elucid’s project, GROW, was the winner of the 2nd SCTA Next Gen Sustainability Contest.

A heartfelt thank you to all participants and especially our finalists for their dedication and inspiring contributions, as well as to our sponsors for their unwavering support.

We look forward to continuing this journey and are excited to see what the future holds for coffee sustainability in the upcoming editions of the contest.

In 2023, we announced our first SCTA Next Gen Sustainability Contest. The aim of our contest was to support existing and new initiatives that sought to safeguard the future of coffee.

Through sponsorship from SCTA and a range of other coffee industry players such as UCC,Tchibo, JDE Peet’s, Vidya Global, Louis Dreyfus Company, Sucafina, Hamburg Coffee Company, Touton SA and Enveritas, we were able to raise CHF 21,250 in prize money.

Following a call for proposals, we received 30 applications. The Council and representatives from the sponsor companies then selected the three finalists: 

• TechnoServe with –CAFEProject Peru: “Training of young baristas among coffee-growing households”;
• PROTEEN with “Circular Coffee Waste: Harnessing the power of insects to produce a ‘supercharged fertiliser’ at coffee washing stations”;
• Sucafina Indonesia with “Grounds for Growth”: Empowering farmers through sustainable coffee waste management.

The finalists were invited to pitch live on-stage in Basel at the 14th SCTA Forum & Dinner – you can check out their pitches here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2ZNkgKZEyw&t=8s

Attendees of the 14thSCTA Forum & Dinner were invited to vote for their favourite initiatives on the SCTA Connectapp. The winner was announced during the SCTA Coffee Dinner on Friday evening – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfcnMjpZuaQ

We are delighted to announce that PROTEEN’s project “Circular Coffee Waste was the winner of our first SCTA Next Gen Sustainability Contest.

Once again, we thank all the applicants and especially to our finalists who joined us in Basel for their final pitches Dineshbabu Velumany of Sucafina & Sergio López Zapata of TechnoServe, as well as all our sponsors.

We are already looking forward to our second Sustainability Contest in 2024 – watch this space for more updates.