Innovative supply chain for the trade development of small-scale producer organisations in Huila and Tolima The applicant The Mild Coffee Company N.V. and the local partner Coffee Company Huila Ltda, are going to set-up a joint venture. This joint venture will realise an innovative supply chain that supports small-scale coffee producers in Huila and Tolima, Colombia, by offering farmers technical assistance to enable the production of export quality coffee and giving them access to a processing facility that will enable transparency and traceability throughout the production chain. For this operation an ISO 22000 certified processing facility with a maximum capacity of approximately 60,000 bags of coffee will be set-up annually in Neiva, Colombia.Coffee producers in the regions Huila and Tolima, that are heavily affected by the FARC, currently have limited access to specialty/premium market segments as they do not dispose of a processing facility to clean, hull and sort the coffee beans which renders it impossible to maintain the link with the production chain. Coffee is sold to wholesale buyers while it is still inside the berry or wet. To be able to bring a sustainable coffee to the market, it is crucial to establish the link with the production chain as to guarantee transparency and traceability of the coffee which is required by the diverse certification schemes (Rainforest Alliance, FairTrade, Organic). This project will give individual coffee farmers access to a processing facility and establish a far-reaching transparency and traceability. Furthermore, it will offer them technical assistance that will enable them to reduce their expenditure while improving their income, which as a consequence will improve their profit margins. With this new joint venture CCH will obtain market access for its sustainable and differentiated coffees while MCC secures its supply of traceable specialty coffees.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)Both project partners have a direct interest in integrating corporate social responsibility into its supply chains as they are active in certified coffee market segments.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsBy the end of the project there will be approximately 18 full-time employees, of which 5 are medium-/high-level employees. Additionally, during harvest season another 20 employees will be hired.Two years after the project has been completed there will be approximately 40 full-time employees, of which 8 are medium-/ high-level employees. Seasonal employment will accrue to approximately 35 positions by then. Salaries will be 60% above the minimum wage and employees will receive a range of fringe benefits such as social security and a pension plan.•	Innovation/Transfer of knowledgeEmployees of the joint venture will acquire knowledge about milling operations, quality control and preservation, price risk management, export requirements and ISO 22000. Producer groups will be informed about certification processes, waste and water management, quality improvement and environmental issues.•	Chain effectsThis joint venture will open up new opportunities for smaller coffee farmers, who will be offered trainings on topics to do with sustainable coffee production, market requirements regarding quality and certification standards. Furthermore, individual coffee farmers will get access to a processing facility for their coffees by which a far-reaching transparency and traceability will be established.Currently, CCH is working with approximately 1,000 families that produce coffee. By the end of the project, the project partners expect to work with at least 2000 families that will each generate additional employment for 2 people approximately. Counting one coffee producing family as one job, means that this project will generate indirect employment for 6,000 people in the Huila and Tolima regions at minimum. And above all this, the technical assistance that will be provided to the farmers by the joint venture will enable them to reduce their expenditure while improving their income, which as a consequence will improve their margins.•	EnvironmentThis project will have a positive effect on the environment as it facilitates training of coffee farmers on topics as soil conservation, eco-friendly produced coffee and improved pest management. Furthermore, by stimulating farmers to produce coffee according to certification schemes, they will be encouraged to reforestate and to compost the waste material of the coffee berries into organic fertilizer.•	Position of womenAll job positions within the joint venture will be equally open for men and women. It is estimated that at least 60% of the employees will be female. To implement an innovative supply chain that supports small-scale coffee producers in Huila and Tolima, Colombia, resulting in the sales of 4,200,000 kg cleaned and sorted coffee in the second year of the project.