On November 13, Sarah Beaubien, Director of Sustainability for Farmer Bros. Co. and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), led a breakout session at ISSP’s 2014 conference in Denver.  The panel’s topic, “Building Resiliency in Supply Chain Communities: A New Hub for Thought Leadership, Investment and Action,” is one close to Beaubien’s job and heart.

As Farmer Brothers’ representative for the Coffeelands Food Security Coalition (CFSC), Beaubien, along with her fellow panelists – Jennifer Gallegos of Fair Trade USA, and Mary Beth Cote-Jenssen of Water For People – profiled the challenging social and economic realities facing coffee growing communities around the world, and offered the audience examples of emerging best practices that are designed to repair, encourage and support survival and perpetuation of the coffee supply chain between growers and customers.

Beaubien observed, “When companies join together to identify the challenges, needs and opportunities related to sustainability and economic resiliency in and around coffee communities, the results are a positive shift in their development trajectory. When global coffee communities can thrive, there is reciprocity and the entire coffee industry benefits.”

In addition to her membership in one of the world’s leading associations for sustainability professionals, Beaubien is the prime mover and public face of Farmer Brothers’ sustainability initiatives, directing the company’s efforts to invest  in the biodiversity of coffeelands, building the strength of grower communities, and planning for the long-term health of the planet. “Encouraging the production of high-quality, responsibly-grown coffee is a key part of a well-balanced sustainability model. Farmer Brothers’ coffee buying philosophy aims to build a responsible coffee supply chain and create long-term solutions that benefit the growers, sellers and buyers,” she stated.

Beaubien’s panel discussion reinforced Farmer Brothers’ ongoing commitment to coffee sustainability, leadership and collaboration around the globe. Given the need for companies to source raw materials across a vast number of geographies, there is an increasing need to understand the impact on those communities whose livelihoods depend on company investment.

For more information about Farmer Brothers and its responsible sourcing and sustainability initiatives, contact Marianna Zhupleva at mzhupleva@farmerbros.com. For more information about Farmer Brothers’ responsibly sourced coffees and sustainability initiatives, visit www.farmerbros.com/our-story/sustainability/.