Agile Data and Soap: Farmer Focus Showcased at SCA

The signs were all there. Visitors to the JNP Coffee Roaster Village booth at SCA Houston could see the variety of impact initiatives displayed as signposts, complete with QR codes to find out more. A hub of activity for three days straight, the booth was also the place to savor Burundi coffee, thanks to partnerships with several roasters.

Our founder and CEO Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian spoke during the Green Coffee Connect sessions that kicked off the conference. And our scheduled cupping was fully booked. It was a wonderful time of connection and updates on the ever-changing world of coffee, with conversations on challenges from the C market to climate change.

New approaches at origin

This is the year to do things differently, as Jeanine explained during her presentation. Practicing data democracy is one approach. A new project has JNP Coffee partnering with COSA (Committee on Sustainability Assessment) to arm Burundian farmers with smart phones to gather data and then use that information to improve their coffee cultivation within the same season. The concept is known as Agile Data.

Jeanine contributed to the Green Coffee Connect panel, “Days Not Months: Tracking Coffee Production Costs in Real Time,” together with COSA CEO Liam Brody and AFCA Executive Director Gilbert Gatali. In this pilot phase, 400 farmers recruited through JNP Coffee have received smart phones, solar generators to charge them, and satellite internet access to send and receive data daily throughout the coffee production season.

The COSA initiative is designed to empower farmers through ownership of their data, Liam explained, for their own strategic decision-making and for sharing with other farmers. Replacing the traditionally slow process of field work by enumerators (where data can be a year old before external parties share their results), this agile data app now allows these 400 farmers) to track their coffee production costs on a daily basis.

Understanding their true costs will help inform their negotiations over prices for their coffee. That is empowerment, noted Gilbert. The smart phones could also be used for financial payments and a multitude of other applications.

“If we are able to collect this information, make this tool functional in a place like Burundi, this can be applicable anywhere in the world,” said Jeanine. The goal is to scale this project to involve more farmers throughout Burundi, and ultimately for other crops in other countries. 

There’s also a new way to experience this important panel discussion. Look for the forthcoming podcast with this conversation’s recording. Visit the JNP Coffee website [here] to find the link.

Not Just Coffee but Soap

Much of the talk at the SCA show this year wasn’t about coffee but soap! That’s because the team of innovative women behind the Turihamwe Turashobora washing station have created  a new revenue stream.  Together, they produce soap.

In partnership with Equator Coffees, JNP Coffee supported a fundraising project that helped this women’s group launch their soap-making business—and we couldn’t be more proud of their innovative thinking.

During the summer of 2024, Equator customers contributed to this initiative through their purchases of Turihamwe-roasted coffee bags and merchandise. The campaign raised approximately $5,000, enabling the group to invest in this sustainable off-season project.

The women selected the initiative themselves, and every production run has sold out. Their soap is used for personal hygiene and for laundry, promoting a healthier lifestyle while also generating additional income. The women involved in this project have been featured on national television in Burundi. Some of their latest products were on display at the show, a beautiful example of impact that extends beyond coffee.

New Financial Literacy Partnership

You’ll be hearing more soon about this impact project, but for now, we have partnered with the Burundi  non-profit Auxfin to renew the financial literacy program. Our goal remains to empower women coffee farmers traditionally left out of the payment cycle for green coffee. The organization’s longstanding work in Burundi closely aligns with the JNP Coffee mission to make a difference.

New Ways to Support These Initiatives

Our farmer-focused projects are multiplying. The Coffee Academy of Burundi, established in January with its first cohort of young people eager to learn how to contribute to the growing local coffee industry [here], seeks equipment donations to enable new barista training and our ongoing sensory and green coffee training.

“Continuing to build and support projects like these, beyond premium payments, is part of our long-term commitment to farmer livelihoods,” said Jeanine. 

Partner with us for fundraisers to attract new customers and fund ongoing impact projects. And of course, direct financial support is always welcomed. You can connect with us directly at info@jnpcoffee.com to discuss how your company can expand the impact on coffee farmers’ well-being.