Supporting Female Farmers by Dealing in Certified Coffee
In Central America including Guatemala where stark economic differences exist between men and women, the proportion of female population participating in the workforce remains nearly half that of men. In 2010, Mayacert S.A. and Asobagri Cooperative have jointly established the Con Manos De Mujer (CMM) certification system with the goal of bettering the social standing of women and improving their economic environment. The premium attached to the price of CMM certified coffee is transformed into scholarships, medical assistance, etc. given to female farmers who are members of the cooperative, supporting their active efforts to achieve self-actualization.
Fairtrade, connecting between producers and consumers
At SC Foods, we continually purchase and pay fair prices for raw materials and products made by businesses in developing countries that give consideration to human rights and environment. As part of these efforts, we deal in several products that are Fairtrade certified, a trading mechanism that aims to improve the living conditions of producers and laborers in developing countries who are in a weaker competitive position and to support their self-reliance. Particularly, we have dealings in Fairtrade certified coffee with six nations and eight agricultural cooperatives (some of which have a long-term business relationship with us for nearly 20 years), making us the “World Food Curator,” a trading company specialized in food products that aims to propose and actualize the optimal solutions aligned with the needs of our customers and the actual situation of our suppliers.
Addressing Environmental Impacts and Food Issues by Dealing in Alternative Proteins
As the global population continues to increase, food shortages in the future are becoming a concern. Since soy production results in 1/8 of the total water consumption generated from raising cattle, and 1/85 of greenhouse gas emissions (measured in CO₂), soy beans are increasingly recognized for their value as a sustainable food with little environmental impact and are drawing attention as a product that can address future issues. SC Foods recognized early on the value of soy bean for its high nutritional benefits and low environmental impact. We are expanding our soy products, with operations mainly on our Kawasaki Shiohama Processing Center.
