IOM/ J. CortesCoffee and desserts in the pastry shop.
The UN General Assembly declared October 1st as International Coffee Day. The corresponding resolution was approved on Tuesday in New York. Dozens of countries, including Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, co-sponsored the document.
The resolution recognizes “the cultural, social and historical significance of coffee, from its origins to its significant role in the development of contemporary societies, in which it has become not only an important agricultural commodity and source of livelihood for communities, but also a symbol of social interaction, cultural expression and everyday tradition across generations.”
“More than a drink”
The document also highlights the contribution of coffee production and processing to the achievement of a number of Sustainable Development Goals : fighting hunger (SDG 2), reducing extreme poverty (SDG 1), empowering women (SDG 5), and promoting decent work and economic growth (SDG 8).
Coffee is more than a beverage. It’s part of a global trade—from bean to cup—that supports the livelihoods of millions of farmers and connects rural communities to markets around the world, said Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
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The resolution, adopted on Tuesday, was submitted to the General Assembly after being endorsed by the FAO Conference at its 44th session in 2025. The document calls on FAO to promote the observance of International Coffee Day in collaboration with relevant organizations, in particular the International Coffee Organization.
The meaning of coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular beverages on the planet: over the past decade, global per capita consumption has grown by an average of 1.2 percent annually. The industry provides income to approximately 25 million farmers and creates jobs at all stages of the value chain. Overall, the global coffee industry generates over $200 billion in annual revenue.
Coffee also remains one of the most actively traded commodities globally. In 2024, global production exceeded 11 million tons, of which approximately 8 million tons of coffee beans were sold internationally. The value of global coffee production that year was estimated at nearly $25 billion, while global coffee bean exports reached approximately $34 billion.
For many low-income countries, coffee exports are a significant source of foreign exchange earnings. In 2024, coffee accounted for 27.9 percent of total merchandise exports in Ethiopia, 20.1 percent in Uganda, and 19.5 percent in Burundi. In Ethiopia and Uganda, coffee export revenue exceeded food import expenditures, and in Burundi, it accounted for almost 20 percent of the country’s food import value.
In 2024, the largest coffee exporters were Brazil and Vietnam, and the major importers were the European Union and the United States of America.
Development of the coffee sector
FAO helps coffee-producing countries and communities adapt to climate challenges. The organization supports pest control and the conservation of traditional coffee systems in Panama, the development of agroforestry and climate-resilient coffee varieties in East Africa, and the strengthening of cooperative models in Cuba.
© FAO/J. Bissarri
Furthermore, the global coffee market is increasingly demanding transparency in the production process and compliance with new sustainability standards. FAO is working with producers and governments in countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, and Uganda to help establish reliable traceability systems, align national policies with international frameworks, and attract investment for smallholder farmers.
The organization also promotes long-term improvements in farmers’ livelihoods. In Brazil, Costa Rica, and Honduras, projects implemented jointly with partners, including the World Bank, are increasing production efficiency and farm incomes. In El Salvador, the agency supported the development of a comprehensive national plan for the coffee sector.
FAO will continue to work with member countries and partners to ensure that International Coffee Day becomes a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and joint action. The initiative aims to foster an efficient, inclusive, sustainable, and environmentally responsible coffee sector. ///Originally published by UN News (https://news.un.org/ru/story/2026/03/1467516 )