Shared ownership from Ethiopian coffee farms to the European market.

The Equal Trade Coffee Living Lab brings Ethiopian producers, diaspora entrepreneurs and Dutch partners together to test a coffee venture they can own together. Led by the Equal Trade Alliance, it explores whether a share in roasting, branding, distribution and sales can improve producer incomes and economic resilience.

Why ownership matters

Much of coffee’s value is created after the beans leave the farm. Better prices and certification help, but producers often remain suppliers. This pilot gives participating producers a role in the business through agreed ownership, decision-making and transparent revenue sharing.

How the pilot works

Ethiopian farmers produce the coffee. Shone Coffee manages producer relationships, sourcing, quality, processing and export. Tuka Coffee Roasters handles import, roasting and product development. Diaspora networks help develop the Dutch and wider European market, while the Equal Trade Alliance coordinates the partnership.

The work combines a commercial pilot, independent research and community input. The commercial pilot tests costs, margins, consumer response and the revenue available to share. Jimma University studies household economics and producer income in Ethiopia. Wageningen U&R examines the market end of the chain and supports monitoring, evaluation and learning. The Equal Trade Community contributes expertise, connections and ideas for future collective investment.

Where we are now

The project is in pilot design and initial testing, establishing its commercial, governance and revenue-sharing foundations. Its first local lab, Mook Equal Trade Stad, brings together citizen investors, local businesses, the municipality and schools.

The next steps are to validate the model with larger volumes and more producers, prepare for potential investment and build a business that can operate without ongoing grants. Learning from the pilot could support ventures in other origins and value chains, including cocoa, cashew, vanilla and shea.

Partner with the Coffee Living Lab

Help test a practical model for shared ownership in coffee. Get in touch with Max Koffi to explore a commercial partnership, research collaboration or community contribution.