Salvador Rodriguez - Colombia

Raw Material, a passionate non-profit organization, was born from a deep-seated commitment to transforming specialty coffee into a force for positive change in our industry. They're driven by the belief that coffee should be a solution, not a contributor to the cycle of debt and disadvantage faced by generations of producers. Their dedicated team operates as service providers, standing alongside marginalised coffee-producing communities, making them a promise: to enhance their income, elevate coffee quality, boost yields, and catalyze community initiatives.

They venture deep into the heart of coffee-producing communities across five remarkable countries of origin: Burundi, Rwanda, Mexico, Colombia, and Timor Leste. Their mission is to seek out communities with whom they can collaborate to construct systems that yield top-tier coffee connected to a more stable marketplace. This pursuit is fueled by unwavering commitment to creating meaningful impact, shaping their strategy around the potential to uplift the people, places, and systems within the coffee supply chain.

Raw Material measure impact across three critical dimensions: economic, social, and environmental. The model is founded on empowering individuals within the coffee industry, offering economic freedom through fair pricing, income diversification, and prompt payments. Socially, the aim is to foster the sharing of knowledge throughout the supply chain. Environmentally, they champion responsible practices in coffee cultivation and harvesting. They meticulously gauge the outcomes at both the individual household and community levels, adjusting their approach to continually learn and grow, ensuring their impact reverberates ever more powerfully.