Fairtrade - Laos
The Bolaven Plateau Coffee Producers Group Association (AGPC) is an organisation of coffee producers consisting of 53 co-operatives and comprising of 2,625 families that produce coffee. These producers of coffee are Fair- Trade Certified (Flo Cert) this assures that the AGPC contributes to the social and economic development of producers under a system of democratic control for all its members. The Bolaven Plateau is known locally as the “Spring of Laotian Coffee”; it is also considered to be the source of life for the producers who live there. It is situated in the south of Laos, not far from the Cambodian and Vietnamese borders.
38 small co-operative coffee wet process centres were set up between 2007 and 2008 with the help of a collaboration of El Salvadorian engineers and the French research institute, Cirad.
AGPC Products
The AGPC can supply three types of green coffee for the international market (prepared according to the clients requirements), with generally less than 5 defects:
- Arabica « fully washed »
- Robusta washed or semi washed.
- Robusta natural
The AGPC is actively participating to attain the recognition of a Geographical Indication for Bolaven coffees. Geographical Indication is the international equivalent of the world renowned French system of “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée” (AOC). Its implementation is regulated by the Lao law of intellectual property and international agreements of World Trade Organisation (WTO) to protect “Origin Products”.
The Geographical Indication “Bolaven Coffees” will assure the consumer that the coffee is the exclusive product of the Boloven Plateau, produced according to highest standards of quality.
When you buy AGPC coffee you are assured that the producers will benefit from your purchase and that you are participating in the fight to reduce poverty on the Bolaven Plateau
