Salvadoran coffee gains presence in Rome during the World Food Forum

The aroma of Café de El Salvador arrived in Rome as part of the Hand in Hand Investment Forum, a space of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) that brings together governments, producers, international organizations, and investors. The participation made it possible to showcase the Salvadoran bean before attendees from various countries and reinforced its presence in international settings linked to agriculture and trade. The tasting was part of the activities of the World Food Forum 2026, which took place from October 8 to 16 in the Italian capital, under the theme "Innovate today to nourish tomorrow." The agenda included investment proposals, scientific exchanges, and spaces dedicated to promoting agrifood systems with greater production capacity, inclusion, and resilience. During the Hand in Hand Initiative Investment Forum, the president of the Salvadoran Coffee Institute (ISC), Mauricio Sansivirini, presented the actions that El Salvador has promoted to strengthen national agriculture. The official noted that coffee farming holds a place within that effort, with support from the Production Increase Program promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. As he explained, that initiative has made it possible to accumulate experience, expand capacities, and obtain results for the producer families linked to the crop. The presentation in Rome included the promotion of a sustainable, competitive coffee production model oriented toward international market standards. The goal was to bring agricultural sector representatives and investors closer to the Salvadoran offering, in a forum that seeks to channel resources toward projects led by the participating countries. The FAO's Hand in Hand Initiative uses territorial information and data analysis to identify zones and production chains with the possibility of receiving investment. In this edition, 38 countries and five regional initiatives presented proposals worth $20.16 billion, aimed at sectors such as staple crops, livestock, fishing, coffee, and cacao. The president of the Salvadoran Coffee Institute, Mauricio Sansivirini, presented the country's agricultural advances in Italy. (Photo courtesy of FAO El Salvador) The exhibition in Italy adds to other promotional activities for Salvadoran coffee carried out in recent months. In May, the product was selected as the single-origin coffee for the Norwegian Roasting Championship, held in Oslo. The competition allowed specialists to work with beans produced in El Salvador. In June, the country participated in the Gongneung Forest Trail Coffee Festival in South Korea, where it presented its offering to producers, importers, roasters, and consumers. That same month, Salvadoran coffee was also part of World of Coffee Brussels 2026, a European fair focused on the specialty coffee sector. In July, there was a tasting in Busan, South Korea, with samples of varieties and processes from different Salvadoran coffee-growing regions. The event brought together representatives of the local industry interested in learning about the product's traceability, cup profiles, and genetic diversity. Café de El Salvador was present at the FAO Hand in Hand Investment Forum in Rome. (Photo courtesy of FAO El Salvador) The presence at the World Food Forum consolidated an agenda that during 2026 took Salvadoran coffee to Norway, Belgium, South Korea, and Italy. In Rome, attendees were able to learn about and taste a product that continues to be one of El Salvador's agricultural emblems. The World Food Forum concluded on October 16, the date on which World Food Day is also commemorated. The gathering brought together authorities, young people, scientists, farmers, indigenous peoples, businesses, and financial institutions to discuss innovation, production, and access to food.