Coffee summit set Oct. 23

MANILA, Philippines - The state-owned Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) will host the 6th National Coffee Summit in cooperation with the Philippine Coffee Board (PCB) on Oct. 23  from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Landbank Plaza in Manila.

The annual conference will feature success stories in coffee production from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, which may serve as inspiration to would-be farmers, OFW retirees, Landbank clients and the general public. Attendees of past summits have started their own farms, or have otherwise gone into businesses related to coffee.

The country consumes about 100,000 metric tons of coffee but only grows 25,000 MT, and the level has not gone up due to continuous conversion of coffee lands to industrial and residential uses.

However, continuous work by the PCB with the Departments of Agriculture, Trade and Industry and Agrarian Reform have seen new farmers planting in new areas like Bohol, Negros Occidental and Cotabato.

“We would like to showcase these successful new farmers,” according to Nicholas Matti, PCB chair. “They attended our previous summits and went to work immediately.”

Those interested in meeting potential partners and those wanting to get into coffee must attend this summit. Please register by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or calling Chat Adelante at 813-1028.