Wednesday, 11 March 2026
October 1 annual observance to raise awareness about coffee’s socio-economic importance and contribution to food security
Approved Tuesday in New York, the resolution acknowledges the cultural, social, and economic importance of coffee—from its historical origins to its role in shaping modern societies. Beyond being a popular beverage, the UN described coffee as a key agricultural commodity and a symbol of social interaction, cultural identity, and everyday traditions across generations.
The resolution also highlights coffee’s contribution to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including ending poverty, fighting hunger, promoting gender equality, and supporting decent work and economic growth.
“Coffee is more than a beverage—it is a globally traded commodity that sustains the livelihoods of millions of farming households and connects rural communities to markets around the world,” said Qu Dongyu, Director-General of FAO. “Recognizing the value of the coffee sector will help raise awareness of its socio-economic importance and strengthen its contribution to poverty eradication.”
The UNGA resolution followed a proposal adopted during the 44th session of the FAO Conference in 2025. Under the measure, FAO will coordinate global observances of International Coffee Day in collaboration with relevant partners, including the International Coffee Organization.
Coffee is among the world’s most widely consumed beverages, with global per-capita consumption rising by roughly 1.2 per cent annually over the past decade.
The industry supports the livelihoods of approximately 25 million farmers worldwide and generates more than $200 billion in annual revenue across the global value chain—from cultivation and processing to retail and café services.
Coffee also remains one of the most actively traded commodities globally. In 2024, worldwide coffee production exceeded 11 million tonnes, with around 8 million tonnes traded internationally.
The value of global coffee production that year was estimated at nearly $25 billion, while international trade in coffee beans reached roughly $34 billion.
For several low-income economies, coffee exports remain a vital source of foreign exchange. In 2024:
In both Ethiopia and Uganda, coffee export earnings exceeded the countries’ food import bills, while in Burundi they represented nearly one-fifth of food import costs.
Among exporters, Brazil and Vietnam led global shipments in 2024. The largest importers were the European Union and the United States.
FAO’s Role in Supporting Coffee Producers
FAO works with coffee-producing nations through a range of initiatives aimed at improving sustainability and strengthening farmer livelihoods.
Climate resilience:
The agency helps farmers adapt to climate change through pest-management programs and the conservation of traditional coffee systems in Panama via FAO’s Farmer Field Schools. Additional projects promote agroforestry and climate-resilient coffee varieties in East Africa while strengthening cooperative systems in Cuba.
Market access and traceability:
As global coffee markets increasingly demand supply-chain transparency and sustainability certification, FAO is working with governments and producers in countries including Honduras, Guatemala, and Uganda to develop traceability systems and align national regulations with international standards. These efforts aim to mobilize investment benefiting more than 200,000 smallholder farmers.
Investment and development:
Through initiatives such as the World Bank-supported projects and FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, the organization is helping countries unlock financing to strengthen agricultural productivity and farmer incomes. Programs in Brazil, Costa Rica, and Honduras focus on improving efficiency and value creation, while FAO has supported the development of a national coffee strategy in El Salvador.
With International Coffee Day now formally recognized by the United Nations, FAO says the observance will serve as a platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and action across the entire coffee value chain—highlighting both the opportunities and challenges facing millions of coffee producers worldwide.
