Lecture Description
Coffee-producing forest and agroforestry systems across Africa, Latin America, and Asia are among the world’s most powerful yet undervalued nature-based assets. These landscapes deliver exceptional cup quality, protect biodiversity, and sustain millions of smallholder farmers, yet they are often treated as low-value, undifferentiated supply.
In this lecture, Bemnet Aschenaki takes the audience on a journey from Ethiopia’s forests to the hills of Latin America and the river valleys of Southeast Asia, exploring how these origin ecosystems can be transformed into premium, traceable, climate-aligned coffee value chains.
The session will blend systems thinking, human stories, and practical examples to help the specialty community understand what it will take to protect the landscapes that protect our coffee.
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 9:45 am
Location: Room 24C
Category: Sustainability
Access: This lecture is free to attend with a World of Coffee entry badge. Register to attend World of Coffee here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.
Speakers
Baemnet Aschenaki
Slow Group COO, Slow Forest Coffee
Baemnet Aschenaki is a global leader in climate finance, sustainable commodities, and nature-based solutions with more than 25 years of experience across investment, international development, and agricultural markets. He currently serves as Integration Head at holistiQ Investment Partners within Lombard Odier Investment Managers, focusing on scaling nature-positive investment strategies. Previously, he was Africa Director for Nature-Based Solutions and Regional Director for Partnerships for Forests, overseeing a multi-country portfolio mobilizing private investment into sustainable forestry and land restoration across Africa. Earlier in his career, he served as Chief Strategy Officer of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange, helping build one of Africa’s largest agricultural trading platforms.