WASHINGTON & NAIROBI; June 23, 2005 – Building on its ongoing global coffee sustainability commitment in coffee farms and cooperatives throughout the world, Starbucks Coffee Company and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) today announced the launch of the “Coffee for Conservation” project, which is aimed at promoting coffee quality, environmental sustainability and natural resource conservation in east Africa.

This agreement for the three-year “Coffee for Conservation” project, which was announced at the Corporate Council on Africa’s bi-annual US-Africa Business Summit in Baltimore, is a natural extension of Starbucks global coffee sustainability initiatives. The project will primarily focus on enhancing coffee quality and quantity, and ensuring natural resources conservation in two east African countries. It will be launched in Kenya in the first year with exploratory plans to implement it in Tanzania in the following year.

“This partnership will benefit both the people and the wildlife of Africa” said Patrick Bergin, President of AWF. “It is only when we work to find solutions that benefit both that conservation can be successful. We are extremely proud of partnering with Starbucks.”

The Starbucks and AWF collaboration offers a unique combination of international, regional and industry expertise in addressing issues facing coffee producers and the coffee industry in east Africa. With more than more than 45 years of experience in conservation and wildlife management in Africa, AWF will lead and manage the project on the ground in Africa. Starbucks primary roles are to provide financial and technical support in terms of training and resources.

“Starbucks remains passionately committed to ensuring the success of coffee farms,” said Dub Hay, senior vice president, Coffee and Global Procurement, Starbucks Coffee Company. “Together with the AWF, we are very pleased to further expand our sustainability initiative to Kenya and Tanzania. With the local knowledge and expertise of the AWF, coupled with Starbucks expertise in coffee quality, agronomy and socially responsible purchasing practices, we hope to positively impact the quantity and quality of coffee produced by selected cooperatives in Kenya and Tanzania. We look forward to continuing our commitments to enriching the livelihoods of coffee farmers in east Africa and throughout the world.”

Starbucks commitment to coffee sustainability centers on building mutually-beneficial relationships with coffee farmers and their communities. The Company firmly believes that success of the farmers with whom we do business is a critical component of our own success. Starbucks socially responsible purchasing practices include paying premium prices for the highest arabica quality coffee, providing farmers with access to affordable credit, investing in social development projects, purchasing conservation and certified coffees (such as Fair Trade Certified™ and organic coffees), collaborating with farmers through the Farmers Support Center in Costa Rica and encouraging farmers and industry participation in C.A.F.E. Practices.

C.A.F.E. Practices (Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices) is a set of coffee buying guidelines designed to help coffee buyers and coffee farmers, ensure high-quality coffee and promote equitable relationships with farmers, workers and communities, as well as protect the environment


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About the African Wildlife Foundation
Founded in 1961, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is the leading conservation organization focused solely on the African continent. AWF’s programs and conservation strategies are based on sound science and designed to protect both the wild lands and wildlife of Africa and ensure a more sustainable future for Africa’s people. Since its inception AWF has protected endangered species and land, promoted partnerships with the private sector for ecotourism to benefit local African communities as a means to improve livelihoods, and trained hundreds of African nationals in conservation – all to ensure the survival of Africa’s unparalleled wildlife heritage. AWF is a non-profit organization with offices in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia and is a registered 501(c)(3) in the United States.