Mental Health Support as the Foundation for Gender Equity at the Farm Level
(Room 24 C)
12 Apr 26
11:00 AM
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11:45 AM
Sustainability and gender equity in coffee begins with the wellbeing of the people who cultivate it. Yet, while the industry invests heavily in productivity, climate resilience, and certification systems, the mental health of women coffee farmers—who make up a significant portion of the global workforce—remains largely invisible.
This session, inspired by SANA, an integrative mental health care and wellness program who has more than a 100 women coffee farmers in Colombia we have completed, demonstrates how investing in mental wellbeing is a sustainability strategy. Through data, stories, and measurable outcomes, we will explore how women’s emotional health impacts decision-making, community leadership, farm management, and long-term wellbeing.
Attendees will learn why mental health should be integrated into gender equity and sustainability frameworks, what scalable models exist, and how brands, roasters, and organizations can co-invest in wellbeing initiatives that create healthier, more equitable, and sustainable coffee systems.