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Kigali, Rwanda│Friday, August 31, 2007

The most esteemed prize for Rwanda’s best coffees – the Golden Cup – will be awarded today at the Hotel des Mille Collines. The Golden Cup, supported by USAID, is a strict and meticulous competition developed to garner international recognition for Rwanda’s burgeoning specialty coffee industry, to encourage the production of the highest quality coffee, and to directly link Rwandan farmers to coffee connoisseurs worldwide.

One hundred thirty-eight unique coffees from across the country entered the month long contest. Only coffees that continuously received high scores from cuppers (tasters) through a rigorous series of five evaluations moved forward through the qualifying events. The winning coffees will be sold to the highest bidder.

The coffees were evaluated for taste and quality by highly trained national and international juries. Judges came from as far away as Europe, Japan and the United States. The entire process was monitored by an independent consulting firm, Ernst & Young, in order to ensure fairness and transparency.

According to Tim Schilling, Director of the USAID/SPREAD Project, the “Golden Cup competition is the first ever of its kind in Rwanda. The program has been planned as the first step, a trial run for conducting the highly revered Cup of Excellence competition and auction.” For the first time in Africa, this prestigious honor for the world’s finest coffees will be awarded in Rwanda in 2008.

The Golden Cup marks another milestone for Rwandan coffee. In 2000, the country did not export any specialty coffee; by 2006, 3,000 metric tons of specialty coffee was produced. Export revenue from this sub-sector was US$8.5 million last year. Coffee is Rwanda’s largest export earner and specialty coffee contributes to the industry’s growth and sustainability.

USAID/Rwanda previously provided $10 million over six years to help develop this specialty agribusiness. In November 2006, USAID renewed its commitment to the industry’s growth by funding Sustaining Partnerships to enhance Rural Enterprise and Agribusiness Development (SPREAD), a five-year, US$6 million project dedicated to improving value chain management. SPREAD works to better the industry’s links “from the seed to the cup.”

Speaking about the Golden Cup, Acting Mission Director for USAID/Rwanda, Ryan Washburn, noted that the “event will highlight the exceptional quality of Rwandan coffee and place it on the international map. The Golden Cup contributes to the project’s objectives of improving the lives of farmers in Rwanda and spurring sustainable economic growth.”

The Golden Cup was organized by USAID/SPREAD and OCIR Café, Rwanda’s Coffee Development Authority, and made possible with the support of the Alliance for Coffee Excellence, National University of Rwanda, RWASCHOSCCO, RFCA, HORIZON, MISOZI, ENAS and Ernst & Young. The Awards Ceremony will be attended by representatives from the Government of Rwanda and U.S. Government officials.

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