Italy and Kenya Strengthen Partnership in Coffee Supply Chain

Ruiru: The final event of the Arabika project was held at the facilities of the Coffee Research Institute in Ruiru, Kenya. The event was attended by the Charg©e d’Affaires of the Embassy of Italy in Kenya, Lorenza Gambacorta, the Honourable John Mutunga, Chairman of the Agriculture and Livestock Committee of the National Assembly of Kenya, and Collins Marangu, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in Kenya, along with Valeria Buoninfante, Director Regent of the Nairobi office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

According to Ansa News Agency, the Arabika project was financed by Italy with an investment of £3 million and was developed in partnership with Kenyan institutions. It was implemented by a consortium of Italian civil society organisations, including Cefa, Avsi, and E4Impact, in collaboration with Kenyan counterparts such as the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) and the Coffee Research Institute (Cri). The project has been active in seven counties-Meru, Nyeri, Murang’a, Embu, Kiambu, Machakos, and Bungoma-engaging with 21 cooperatives and impacting over 30,000 smallholder farmers.

The Arabika project provided strategic investments in cooperative management and product traceability, leading to the creation of seven new Kenyan coffee brands and strengthening the entire coffee supply chain from production to market access. As part of the initiative, seven coffee laboratories were refurbished, seven modern and more efficient eco-pulpers were provided, and training courses were held for farmers, tasters, and cooperative managers. Lorenza Gambacorta emphasized that the project exemplifies the partnership between Kenya and Italy, combining Kenya’s coffee tradition with Italy’s expertise in processing and innovation. Italy plans to continue supporting the Kenyan coffee sector through the modernisation of a coffee training centre, equipped with a new laboratory and modern machinery for roasting, grinding, and tasting coffee, as part of the ‘Mattei Plan’, Italy’s strategy of cooperation with African countries.