Looking to expand your knowledge
on sustainability in coffee?
We offer online, virtual coursework to coffee professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. We partner with a variety of industry-wide trainers and academic institutions to deliver content, promoting a shared understanding of the complexities of sustainability in the coffee value stream. Our work involves providing both theoretical and practical education, allowing us to influence the industry towards more sustainable outcomes and inspire a greater focus on social, environmental, and economic justice.
SCA Coffee Sustainability Program
The Coffee Sustainability Foundation course is an engaging educational experience designed to provide coffee professionals and enthusiasts with essential knowledge and tools for understanding and addressing key sustainability challenges in the industry, regardless of their role in the sector. The course consists of a total of 8 hours of instruction; through four live, two-hour online class sessions, participants will explore a range of critical topics. Beginning with an introduction to sustainability and the fundamentals of acting sustainably, the course then delves into the impacts of climate change on coffee production, the complexities of coffee economics—such as the ongoing coffee price crisis and the role of the C-market—and the numerous social challenges that plague the sector, including insufficient labor rights and historic inequalities.
The Foundation course is a prerequisite for all other courses in the Coffee Sustainability Program. It serves as an essential starting point for both beginners and experienced professionals. By completing the course, learners will gain the critical knowledge and skills needed to advance their sustainable practices and to drive positive impacts in their professional contexts.
Cost:
English: $350 USD per person including all SCA fees
Next Course Dates:
April 7, 10, 14 & 17
11 am ET / 5 pm CET
Sign Up
The Climate & Coffee course offers a comprehensive exploration of environmental sustainability in the coffee sector, and is designed for professionals aiming to incorporate climate-related sustainable practices into their area of expertise. It is useful for professionals looking to either advance environmental sustainability within their current institutional contexts, or build experience and experience in order to transition to more sustainability-focused careers. The course consists of a total of 16 hours of instruction; through eight live, two-hour online class sessions, students will explore a range of environmental challenges facing the coffee sector and learn about actionable strategies to address them.
Key topics include the impacts of climate change on coffee production, the origins of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the sector, and the critical distinctions between climate adaptation and mitigation. Students will learn about climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, such as biodiversity, water resource management, agroforestry, and the adoption of climate-resilient varieties. They will also examine the impact of these practices on coffee’s carbon footprint and discuss economic models that focus on resource recovery and waste minimization. Finally, students will hear about advancements in plant breeding and agricultural research to develop climate-resilient coffee varieties.
Throughout the course, students will analyze the relationship between these above topics and sustainability legislation, which often requires data-driven sustainability reporting and other compliance-related actions.
Cost:
English: $500 USD per person including all SCA fees
Next Course Dates:
TBD
Sign Up
Develop your understanding of the C market and coffee prices, examine factors that influence costs of production and farm profitability, and discuss strategies for implementing more sustainable economic approaches.
Cost:
English: $500 USD per person including all SCA fees
Next Course Dates:
TBD
Sign Up
Examine due diligence, the shifting landscape of sustainability requirements and legilation, how decision-making occurs and the role of power in various systems, and guidance for reporting on an organization’s sustainability work.
Cost:
English: $375 USD per person including all SCA fees
Next Course Dates:
TBD
Sign Up
Sustainability Reporting
The Sustainability Reporting course with Coffee Knowledge Hub is an opportunity for coffee professionals to explore the importance of corporate and non-profit accountability, and practically develop a strategy to improve sustainability, impact, or transparency reporting at their own companies and institutions. Students will learn about the different types of industry-wide reporting, understand key terminology, and assess opportunities and methodologies for data collection and organization. They will gain technical knowledge on best practices and on how to develop a robust reporting structure and system that highlights their company’s or institution’s ethical activities and impact. Students will be introduced to a variety of tools they can leverage for this purpose, and further be able to review existing reports to better understand how to put lessons learned into practice.
Cost:
€330
On Demand
Learn at your own pace! Access 20+ pre-recorded lessons designed to simplify and strengthen your reporting practices. With your registration you also access monthly office hours.
Sign Up