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 Foundation course of the SCA Coffee Sustainability Program 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, students 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.
Upon completing this course, students will:
- Understand the definitions and pillars of sustainability, including its application to coffee.
- Explore key sustainability challenges and the trade-offs to consider when taking action.
- Recognize tools and approaches for improving context-specific sustainability outcomes.
One week before the first class date, students will receive materials to review in preparation for the full course.
Cost:
English: $350 USD per person including all SCA fees
Next Course Dates:
August 18, 21, 25 & 28
11 am ET / 5 pm CET
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The Climate & Coffee course of the SCA Coffee Sustainability Program 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 expertise 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 coffee 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. Throughout the course, students will analyze the relationship between these topics and sustainability legislation, which often requires data-driven sustainability reporting and other compliance-related actions.
Overall, upon completing the course, through engaging with practical insights as well as real-world case studies, students will:
- Understand the coffee sector’s impact on the environment, as well as how broader environmental shifts impact the coffee sector.
- Explore key considerations for increasing climate-resilience at the farm level and beyond.
- Become equipped with the tools and knowledge to take meaningful climate action that is context-specific.
One week before the first class date, students will receive materials to review in preparation for the full course.
Cost:
English: $500 USD per person including all SCA fees
Next Course Dates:
Starting on April 21 (Mondays & Thursdays, 111 am ET / 5 pm CET)
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The Coffee Economics course of the SCA Coffee Sustainability Program offers students an opportunity to critically engage with economic realities across the value stream. It is designed to offer students a foundational understanding of coffee economics as well as practical tools for how they can integrate economic sustainability into their own context and operations. The course consists of a total of 16 hours of instruction; through eight live, two-hour online class sessions, students will examine the dynamics of coffee pricing—including the C market price, futures contracts, price differentials, and transparency mechanisms—and assess how these dynamics affect farm profitability and sector-wide sustainability. Students will also examine true costs of production and explore how economic dynamics impact the viability of coffee farming and coffee businesses overall.
While exploring tools to improve farm-level profitability, the course will dive into opportunities for value creation, value capture, and improved value distribution, with special attention being paid to the relevance of consumer behavior and third-party certifications. Finally, students will explore alternative economic models, and discuss concepts such as direct trade, profit-sharing, and cooperativism can combat the social equity implications of unequal economic systems.
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
- Understand the dynamics of coffee pricing and how this impacts farm-level profitability and overall sector-wide sustainably
- Evaluate the possibilities for integrating equitable value distribution and other strategies into various business operations
- Assess the interaction between coffee economics and social justice, and learn how to engage with a variety of stakeholders to improve economic outcomes for all
One week before the first class date, students will receive materials to review in preparation for the full course.
Cost:
English: $500 USD per person including all SCA fees
Next Course Dates:
Starting on May 26 (Mondays & Thursdays, 11 am ET / 5 pm CET)
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The Compliance, Governance & Reporting course of the SCA Coffee Sustainability Program explores the intersection of policy, power, and practice in the coffee industry. Students examine how mandatory due diligence legislation, voluntary sustainability standards, and related expectations are shaping business operations and re-defining what responsibility looks like across the value stream. The course recognizes that the global coffee sector is navigating a rapidly evolving sustainability landscape, one where transparency, accountability, and equity are no longer optional. It is designed for coffee professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of sustainability frameworks so that they may take meaningful action against these frameworks and report on their impacts.
The course consists of a total of 12 hours of instruction; through six live, two-hour online class sessions, students will engage in interactive discussions and analyze real-world case studies, allowing them to critically assess the complexities of existing compliance models and sustainability legislation. Students will learn how to engage with these models and legislative frameworks, and leverage them for their own reporting practices. Additionally, the course provides insight into challenges to ongoing social protections and labor rights in the industry. Within this context, students will understand who holds decision-making authority, and explore how identity, history, and market forces influence access to power. They will also examine alternative governance models, including cooperative business structures, B-Corp certification, and inclusive ownership strategies.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Understand the shifting landscape of mandatory due diligence and voluntary sustainability compliance frameworks, and be able to articulate their benefits and limitations
- Assess governance structures in the sector and understand how they shape power and sustainability outcomes
- Gain insight in data collection for sustainability reporting
One week before the first class date, students will receive materials to review in preparation for the full course.
Cost:
English: $375 USD per person including all SCA fees
Next Course Dates:
Starting on July 28 (Mondays & Thursdays, 11 am ET / 5 pm CET)
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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.
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