AECID promotes a key week for regenerative coffee farming in Venezuela

·        From Monday 25 to Saturday 30 May, Mérida and Santa Cruz de Mora will host technical meetings, seminars, governance workshops and activities promoting sustainable coffee production

·        The initiative is part of the project “Coffee Innovation Network for the Implementation of Regenerative Agriculture Practices in the Mocotíes River Basin”

·        Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, will present opportunities for innovation, cooperation and European funding for the coffee sector

Thursday, 22 May 2026, Mérida (Venezuela). The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), together with the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation of Colombia (APC Colombia), TECNiCAFÉ, the Inter-American Centre for Environmental and Territorial Development and Research of the University of Los Andes (CIDIAT-ULA), Phynatura and the Finnova Foundation, will organise the AECID Venezuela Week from Monday 25 to Saturday 30 May. The programme will bring together producers, researchers, institutions and international organisations around regenerative agriculture, technological innovation, triangular cooperation and coffee governance. The activities are part of the project “Coffee Innovation Network for the Implementation of Regenerative Agriculture Practices in the Mocotíes River Basin, Mérida – Venezuela”, aimed at strengthening producers’ capacities, promoting sustainable farming systems and consolidating an Ibero-American knowledge and innovation network for coffee production.

A week dedicated to innovation and sustainable coffee production

The programme will begin on Monday 25 May with a Technological Innovation Meeting at CORPOANDES (Parque La Isla, Mérida), where participants will explore innovative tools and solutions to improve productivity, traceability and sustainability across the coffee value chain. On Tuesday 26 May, the Strategic Seminar on Regenerative Agriculturewill bring together national and international experts to discuss regenerative agroforestry, soil recarbonisation, successful Latin American experiences, specialty coffee differentiation and market opportunities linked to sustainability and European regulations.

Activities will continue on 27 and 28 May at CIDIAT-ULA with the Governance Meeting for Network Implementation, a participatory process designed to define the structure and roadmap of the future Ibero-American Regenerative Coffee Network. Producers, public institutions, researchers and cooperation stakeholders will work together to identify innovation opportunities, governance mechanisms and strategic priorities for the sustainable development of the coffee sector.

The week will conclude on 29 and 30 May in Santa Cruz de Mora with the Cup of Excellence, an event showcasing the quality and potential of coffees produced in the Mocotíes River Basin through technical conferences, business networking sessions, producer experiences, cultural activities and initiatives aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of Venezuelan specialty coffees.

Triangular cooperation for a more resilient coffee sector

AECID Venezuela Week is one of the flagship actions of the Triangular Cooperation Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean and reflects the joint commitment of Colombia, Venezuela and Spain to sustainable development. The project addresses challenges faced by more than 700 coffee growers in the Mocotíes River Basin, including soil degradation, biodiversity loss, dependence on chemical inputs and increasing vulnerability to socio-natural disasters.

By creating a coffee innovation network and delivering specialised training for producers and technicians, the initiative promotes regenerative practices that restore ecosystems, improve productivity and facilitate access to higher-value sustainable coffee markets.

European innovation and funding opportunities

Among the featured participants is Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, who will present opportunities related to innovation, international cooperation and European funding programmes that can support the transition towards more sustainable and competitive coffee value chains. His intervention will highlight the importance of strengthening collaboration between Europe and Latin America to foster innovation and unlock new opportunities for coffee producers and stakeholders.

Registration open

Researchers, coffee growers, students, public institutions, companies and professionals interested in sustainable agriculture are invited to participate either in person or online.

Registration form:

https://forms.gle/CS9Nv5QRRvgT5dDm7

Zoom access:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83674852400?pwd=bjg1ao0KXo7qzHxbPvsCWdWbOeC2fo.1

Meeting ID: 836 7485 2400

Passcode: CIDIAT

The project “Coffee Innovation Network for the Implementation of Regenerative Agriculture Practices in the Mocotíes River Basin, Mérida – Venezuela” is promoted by AECID and APC Colombia and implemented by TECNiCAFÉ, CIDIAT-ULA, Phynatura and the Finnova Foundation. The initiative seeks to strengthen coffee producers’ technical, entrepreneurial and organisational capacities, promote regenerative agriculture and build a long-term innovation network linking Colombia, Venezuela and Spain through sustainable production, traceability and knowledge exchange.

More information: https://forms.gle/CS9Nv5QRRvgT5dDm7