The World Health Day is celebrated on April 7th, the date the World Health Organization (WHO) was established, in 1948.

In times of the Covid-19 pandemics, we should remember that health is an universal right. The day invites to reflection and awareness about the importance of physical, mental, and social wellness for every individual. In addition, the day calls for care amongst families and friends and recognition of the efforts of healthcare professionals, who are in the front line and, with dedication, engagement and strength, work to ensure services, care and comfort to those who need.

In line with the Classical Pillars of Sustainability, the global challenge brings impacts to several spheres of agribusiness: Health, Sanitation and Sustainability.

The greatest problems in Health & Diet are the lack of food combined by aggravated impacts in the economy, particularly in emerging countries. In Sanitation, we can see the raising of severe conditions and challenges in the efficiency of the sanitation system. In sustainability, the most important topics are connected to environmental management and to the social and economic aspects of each country.

CECAFÉ, in its legitimate mission to represent the coffee exporting sector in Brazil, is involved in strategic alliances with the entire production chain and in all the country’s producing regions, to mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemics on Brazilian coffee agribusiness.

Through this wide campaign, we seek to create general guidelines with important information for the health of growers, employees and the entire community. Such initiative aims to delay the evolution of the pandemics that worries everyone and is a threat to our lives.

Education and the right information represent the solution for everyone to mitigate the impacts of the pandemics, including at-risk groups, forms of contagion and how good personal hygiene practices, cleaning and maintenance of equipment and vehicles and distance between employees can be adopted to prevent the transmission or decrease of the risk of contamination in rural properties, warehouses, industries and the entire export flow.

The work and effort carried out by the agribusiness production chain is worthy of mention. Despite the adverse conditions caused by the pandemics, the industry continues to operate to ensure adequate food supply for the population. In relation to coffee growing, growers are prepared, following the recommended care for a safe harvest according to the precautionary measures indicated by the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health.

Also noteworthy is the strengthening of our partnership with InPACTO – National Pact Institute for the Eradication of Slave Labor, through a Member Initiative that counts on the engagement of all chain segments, and which seeks to improve the industry through a positive agenda of training, events, and specialized communication on best labor practices, production cost management and legal and compliance & reputation issues. Such agenda becomes even more important in harvesting, processing and exporting in times of Covid-19 .

CECAFÉ is pleased to collaborate proactively with all the sector and is sure that our joint efforts will bring benefits to the entire Brazilian coffee agribusiness.

 

Marcos Matos – CECAFÉ CEO

Lilian Vendrametto – CECAFÉ Sustainability Manager