Mexico's Plan To Support Smallholder Farmers With Sustainable Coffee Procurement – CoffeeTalk

Mexico is making strides in sustainable coffee procurement through a collaborative meeting led by the Ministry for Anti-Corruption and Good Governance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER). This meeting, titled “Toward a Sustainable Public Procurement Policy for Coffee from Social Sector Organizations (OSS),” showcased the results of the first coffee purchase conducted in 2025 alongside an implementation plan for 2026.

Julio Berdegué, the SADER Minister, highlighted the social and environmental significance of Mexican coffee, mentioning there are approximately 500,000 producers in the country, with 95% being very small-scale farmers, predominantly from Indigenous communities. He pointed out that these Indigenous smallholder coffee farms contribute significantly to Mexico’s biodiversity, which encompasses about 70% of the planet’s diversity.

Berdegué discussed the potential within the public procurement framework, noting that thousands of coffee producers are prepared to sell directly to the State, but emphasized that the effort requires more than just traditional support. He identified 23,700 coffee farmers involved in Field Schools, with 5,500 capable of selling coffee immediately.

Alejandro Encinas, Deputy Minister for Good Governance, elaborated on the scale of public procurement in Mexico, which amounts to MX$700 billion (approximately US$38.1 billion). He expressed the government’s intention to leverage these purchases as a means for development and social justice, starting with coffee due to its historic importance to the sector.

Encinas mentioned reforms to the Public Sector Procurement, Leasing, and Services Law, allowing cooperatives, micro, small, and medium enterprises, and social economy entities to operate on a level playing field with larger companies. The model’s efficacy has been demonstrated, and scaling it across the entire Federal Public Administration remains a key objective.

Progress was also detailed regarding a Framework Agreement presented by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) for the procurement of coffee from OSS. This framework allows federal agencies to purchase coffee based on standardized criteria through Mexico’s Digital Store, enhancing procurement efficiency, expanding participation from social sector organizations, and strengthening the supplier registry.

Anabel Téllez from the Yankuik Senojtokalis cooperative shared her experiences as a federal supplier, expressing a desire for fairer commercial relationships. Notable attendees included Senator Susana Harp and representatives from various agencies, collectively agreeing that the country is moving towards a public procurement model in coffee that will directly benefit producing communities. Looking ahead to 2026, the government projects a purchase of 68 tons of roasted and ground coffee at an estimated cost of MX$20 million.

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