CAVEC Connects: Sustainable bridges between Huila and Europe
What is the CAVEC Project?
The Colombian Green Coffee Chains project (CAVEC), implemented by Inclusive Business Partners, ForumCiv, and the Government of Huila, is one of the AL INVEST Verde projects, in which sequa gGmbH leads the Consortium executing Component 1, funded by the European Commission and co-financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
This project was designed to address the global environmental challenges humanity faces today, such as biodiversity loss, high deforestation rates, ecosystem degradation, and unsustainable production practices. This aligns with the European Union Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR 1115/2023), which governs the commercialization of seven products and their derivatives (including coffee) and also aims to contribute to overcoming these challenges.
CAVEC has worked with SMEs in Huila to strengthen their capacities to comply with the EU Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR 1115/2023) and to implement an Environmental and Social Management System adapted to the local context, thereby improving coffee production conditions and facilitating export processes, mainly to the European market.
We recognize that the successful execution of initiatives like this requires dialogue among different actors who can share their own reflections, perspectives, and experiences regarding the challenges and opportunities generated by adaptation processes such as this one.
During this business meeting organized by CAVEC, the goal is to foster dialogue and potential business partnerships through direct connections between SMEs and cooperatives in Huila and key European actors in the coffee value chain, ensuring that Huila’s SMEs are integrated into traceable and deforestation-free value chains.
Organizations supporting CAVEC
The CAVEC project is an initiative under the AL-INVEST Verde program, implemented by Inclusive Business Partners, ForumCiv, and the Government of Huila. This project has been carried out with financial support from the European Union, through Sequa, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida/ASDI). The content is the sole responsibility of Inclusive Business Partners and ForumCiv and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, Sequa, Sida/ASDI, or the Government of Huila.
As part of the project’s implementation, strategic alliances have been established with local authorities such as the Rural Development Agency and the Mayor’s Office of Neiva.