Lecture Description
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.
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Time: 11:00 am - 11:45 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
Lucia Bawot
Founder & CEO, SANA
Lucia Bawot is passionate about transforming ideas into tangible projects. With more than a decade of experience working with leading companies in the coffee industry, she has built narratives and communicated the impact of their sustainability projects. In 2023, she published the her awarded first book, We Belong: An Anthology of Colombian Women Coffee Farmers. Currently, Lucia leads SANA, an initiative that provides a mental health and wellness support to Colombian women coffee farmers through a five-month integrative program that combines tele-counseling, virtual education, and community support, creating spaces to break silence, strengthen personal agency, and improve their well-being to live healthier and more fulfilling lives.