Driving positive and sustainable change in coffee farming

OUR PURPOSE

The ViFOUNDATION drives positive and sustainable change on and around coffee farms. The mitigation of risks and improvement of livelihoods of coffee partners and their communities are our central concern. We specifically promote the development of progressive agricultural practices among coffee farmers.

ViCAFE x ViFOUNDATION

The ViFOUNDATION is an independent foundation under Swiss law and regulated by the Federal Foundation Supervisory Authority. ViCAFE supports the ViFOUNDATION financially through donations and pro bono work.

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ViCAFE makes a pledge, from July 2023 onwards, to donate 0.5 CHF to the ViFOUNDATION for every kg of coffee sold.

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We believe that the independence of the ViFOUNDATION puts emphasis on the significance of the problems we see in coffee producing countries. The ViFOUNDATION is an open platform for companies, organizations and individuals that want to help changing coffee farming. 

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OUR PROJECTS

Bring back the Trees - Mondul Afforestation Program

Bring back the Trees

– Mondful Afforestation Program

Aprolma's Wishlist

Aprolma's Wishlist

– Gifts for the women of Aprolma 

Bring Water Up

– Solar irrigation for Ciumenene

Bring Water Up

Bio-Fabrica - Compost Facility Finca Los Nogales

Bio-Fabrica

– Compost Facility Finca Los Nogales

Farmer Participation Program - Test Project

Closing the Equity Circle

– Phantom Stock Program (WIP)

PARTNERSHIPS

Zurich Insurance Logo
Coffema Logo
ViCAFE Logo
Eversys Logo

THE BOARD

Kurt Lambert, Chairman of the Board

Kurt Lambert

Chairman // Co-Founder, Chairman of ViCAFE, Drives different ventures

Johanna Jacobi, Board Member

Johanna Jacobi

Member // Assistant Professor of Agroecological Transitions at ETH Zurich

Mark Heasman, Board Member

Mark Heasman

Member // Head of Activism at Zurich Foundation, Sustainability-focussed philanthropy expert

Pascal Herzog, Board Member

PASCAL HERZOG

Member // Executive Management Team at ViCAFE: Sourcing, Roastery, Bakery & Impact

Silvio Mattanza, Board Member

SILVIO MATTANZA

Member // Vice-Chairman Board Member at ViCAFE, Risk & Compliance Officer at Quantex

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CONTACT

Bring back the Trees

Mondul Afforestation Program

Monduli Mountains on Mondul Coffee Estate
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Monocultures typically increase the vulnerabilities of ecosystems towards climate change. Forests, on the other hand, increase biodiversity, create microclimates with reduced temperatures and protect soil from erosion. Therefore, we started an afforestation project on the ViCAFE’s partner farm in Tanzania, Mondul Coffee Estate. The employees of the farm will also intercrop coffee with other fruits and vegetables, making them economically more resilient towards droughts and market changes. By the end of 2023, there will be 46 acres of newly planted indigenous forest on the beautiful hills of the Monduli Mountains with about 100 more acres to be transformed into a diverse and drought resistant forest in the coming years.

Planting trees on Mondul Coffee Estate

Where

Mondul Coffee Estate Monduli, Tanzania

When

2022 – ongoing

budget

USD 58.122

APROLMA'S WISHLIST

Aprolma Women Cooperative Honduras Group Picture with Bianca

Since 2016 ViCAFE works together with the Aprolma Women’s Cooperative in La Paz, Honduras (65 members). When visiting in 2022 we sat together with some of the women and asked them about what they wish for. In the end we had a list with nine very hands-on wishes. Together with the staff of ViCAFE we collected the required 7000 USD.

Aprolma Women Cooperative Honduras

Where

Honduras, La Paz

When

2022/2023

budget

USD 4723

BRING WATER UP

Solar water pump for irrigation

Daniel and his family are owners of a small farm in Kenya’s Kiambu County. They would like to take better advantage of a small river that flows in the valley at the bottom of their farm by installing a solar powered irrigation pump.  

Kenia_Ciumenene_ViCAFE

Where

Kenya, Kiambu

When

2023

budget

USD 5247

BIO FABRICA

Compost Program on Finca Los Nogales

Oscar Hernandez from Finca Los Nogales
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Oscar, the owner of Finca los Nogales in Colombia, has observed that green waste in the neighbouring local town Bruselas is collected but not transformed into useful compost. To change this, we would like to build a larger compost-factory on his farm which allows him to professionally process organic waste from the town as well as his own farm. In addition, he will organize regular workshops and help us to develop learning-modules for other coffee farmers that are keen to learn more about regenerative coffee farming.

Bio Fabrica Compost Los Nogales

Where

Finca Los Nogales, Huila, Colombia

When

2022 – 2023

budget

USD 13’501

Farmer Participation Program

TEST PROJECT

ViCafe_Kenya_Ciumenene_Drone_
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Under this project, coffee farmers would be granted equity-like financial rights in ViCAFE. This would allow them to directly participate in the company’s growth and financial success. Currently we are testing the program in Colombia.

Monduli Mountains on Mondul Coffee Estate

Where

Global

When

Starting 2023

TEST
budget

USD 10’500