2nd Philippine Coffee Sustainability Congress Sets the Stage for the Future of Philippine Coffee

How can the Philippine coffee industry build a more sustainable future while creating new opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs, and the next generation of coffee professionals? These questions will take center stage at the 2nd Philippine Coffee Sustainability Congress, happening on October 15–16, 2026, under the theme “Cultivating Tomorrow’s Cup: Working Towards a Sustainable Future for Philippine Coffee.” 

Organized by the Philippine Coffee Board, Inc. (PCBI), the two-day Congress builds on its inaugural gathering in 2025 with a program focused on practical approaches to sustainability, industry experiences, education, innovation, and opportunities across the coffee value chain. 

The main Congress program will take place on October 15 at the Makati Sports Club in Makati City, featuring presentations and panel discussions on Indigenous coffee communities, alternatives to commercial fertilizers, successful coffee production, women in coffee, circularity, coffee waste upcycling, coffee briquettes, and education and training opportunities in the coffee industry. 

The program will feature speakers and resource persons from government, private industry, farming communities, and educational institutions. Among them are Bernadette Delos Santos, Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF); Gilbert Baltazar, Program Director of the Department of Agriculture’s Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (DA-4K) Program; Benjamin David Abadiano, Founder of the Pamulaan Center for Indigenous Peoples Education; Gio Espital of the PRRM Global Partnership Center; Nicolo Aberasturi, President of Banhaw Agriculture; Richard Khoo, CEO of Lastic Singapore; and Stu Balmaceda, Founder of Side B Upcycling. 

Bringing a regional perspective to the Congress is 26-year-old Adam Esham of House of Kendal in Johor, Malaysia, who began his journey in coffee at just 16 years old. Together with his father, Esham Salam, he helped revive their family’s coffee-growing heritage and has worked to elevate Liberica, known in the Philippines as Barako, as a specialty coffee with greater value for farmers and the market. House of Kendal now grows, mills, and roasts Liberica from its micro-farms in Batu Pahat while working to improve its processing and roasting methods. At the Congress, Esham will share House of Kendal’s story and Malaysia’s experience in giving new life and value to a coffee species deeply familiar to Filipino growers. 

Education and capacity building will also be highlighted through sessions with Robert 

Francisco of UCC Coffee Academy; Brendan Rosen of Naturland Philippines and Naturland Academy; and Dave Lim, Technical Director of the ASEAN Coffee Institute, covering career and learning opportunities in coffee, organic coffee production, and regional coffee education. 

The Congress will also present the 3rd Coffee Cup of Distinction Award to Emmanuel Torrejon, recognizing his decades of contribution to the Philippine coffee industry through coffee trading, roasting, cupping, barista training, business development, and coffee education. 

On October 16, the Congress will shift from discussions to hands-on experiences, with registered participants choosing one of four activities. These include a Coffee Cupping and Coffee Workshop at Commune Cafe in Makati City, a Coffee Crawl through Salcedo and Legazpi Villages, or a Coffee Farm Tour at the PCBI Technical Center in Amadeo, Cavite. The activities offer participants opportunities to explore coffee evaluation, brewing, café culture, and coffee production beyond the conference setting. 

Registration for the 2nd Philippine Coffee Sustainability Congress is ongoing at ₱5,000, covering both days of the Congress and one selected Day 2 activity. Registration closes on September 30, 2026, subject to the availability of slots for the Day 2 activities. 

Register for the 2nd Philippine Coffee Sustainability Congress. 

For more information, visit the Philippine Coffee Board website.