Presentación realizada en el simposio ISDA 2010 ((Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and Food).

1. Hot topic
Hot topic
2 1
Youth participation in agricultural
innovation systems
The case of special coffee tasters in Perú
Maria Paz Montoya P.
Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and food – June 28 / July 1, 2010
w w w . is da 2 0 1 0 . n e t

2. Hot topic
General Facts
1
• In Latinamerica, Perú is the fourth
country with a higher rural youth
population after Brasil, Mexico and
Colombia (i).
• After Bolivia, Honduras and
Nicaragua, Perú has the poorest rural
youth population and is in the fifth place
regarding youth in extreme poverty
after Honduras, Bolivia, Nicaragua and
Paraguay(ii)
• Rural youth represents 24,89% of
rural population in Perú, 21.75% of total
youth population and 5,82% of Perú’s
total population (iii).
(i) Boletín demográfico CEPAL.2005
(ii) Juventud y cohesión social en Iberoamérica. CEPAL 2008
(iii)Censos Nacionales 2007: IX de Población y VI de Vivienda del Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática
Maria Paz Montoya P. Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and food – June 28 / July 1, 2010

3. Hot topic
Rural Youth in Andean Region - 1
Perú
• Land tenancy : microdivision – Agrarian Reform.
• Large families. Redistribution of land problems
• Parents suffered from terrorism. Seek better
opportunities for children giving priority to education.
• Educational opportunities reinforce migration
processes.
• New knowledge (technology, market competencies,
quality production, rentability, etc.)
• Willingness to work under an entrepreneurial
approach and not under traditional structures.
• Willingness to innovate, diversify and specialize.
Maria Paz Montoya P. Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and food – June 28 / July 1, 2010

4. Hot topic
Special Coffee market in Perú 1
• 1999-2003 Global coffee crisis affects
cooperative organizations in Perú
• 2002 Café Perú is founded. Certifications :
organic, fair trade.
• 2006 Coffee quality affected due to fair trade
market/low quality coffees
• 2006-2007 First training program for special
coffee tasters in Perú. Café Perú contacts CQI
(Coffee Quality Institute – USA).
• 2008-2009 First training program for Q-graders
in Perú.
Maria Paz Montoya P. Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and food – June 28 / July 1, 2010

5. Training programs for young coffee Hot topic
tasters 1
Develop technical habilities – coffee tasting - in
youngsters to improve special coffee quality to
better access international markets. International
certification Q-GRADER.
• Competences approach
• More than 50 trained and certified as Q
Graders
• 70% of the trainees are coffee producers’
children
• Ages range : 20-30 years
• 4,900 coffee producers (19,000has.)from
more than 10 cooperative coffee
organizations were benefited
•400 producers and 40 coffee coorperative
organizations were also trained in special
coffee production.
Maria Paz Montoya P. Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and food – June 28 / July 1, 2010

6. Hot topic
Results 1
•Youngster participation in this innovative experience has allowed them to
introduce themselves in a competitive market where quality and
innovation are the basis of its success.
•At the same time, they have now employment opportunities as
tasters and capacity builders to form other youngsters.
•This expertise is being recognized by their families and their
communities giving them visibility and voice. A number of this
youngsters are now in leadership positions in their organizations.
•Youngsters are now increasingly participating in the coffee value chain in
the aim of sustainable livelihoods of their families and their
communities.
Maria Paz Montoya P. Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and food – June 28 / July 1, 2010

7. Hot topic
Conclusions 1
• Young people constitute a key element to any rural
development strategy with a mid and long term vision.
• Agricultural innovation policies aimed at youngsters
should take into account the changing context and
diversity of local and cultural realities young people face.
• Along with capacity building, knowledge management,
technology development and services provision
elements, agricultural innovation initiatives should
empower youngsters towards entrepreneurial and
market approaches that will contribute to fulfill their
employment and opportunity expectations.
Maria Paz Montoya P. Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and food – June 28 / July 1, 2010

8. Hot topic
1
Gracias !
Merci !
Thank you !
Maria Paz Montoya P. Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and food – June 28 / July 1, 2010