On October 1, 2025, on the occasion of the International Coffee Day, the Embassy of Italy in London hosted a panel discussion entitled “Building a Sustainable Coffee Future”, organized in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and the International Coffee Organization (ICO).
The event featured leading figures in the sector: Vanúsia Nogueira, Executive Director of ICO; Andrea De Marco, Project Manager at UNIDO; Giuseppe Lavazza, Chairman of Lavazza S.p.A.; Andrea Illy, Chairman of Illycaffè S.p.A.; and Francesco Sanapo, coffee expert and founder of Ditta Artigianale. The discussion was moderated by Gerardo Patacconi, Senior Advisor at ICO.
Among the guests, representatives of the UK coffee sector, traders and importers, institutions and stakeholders from the United Kingdom, as well as numerous representatives form foreign Embassies, particularly from countries involved in the coffee market and in projects in Africa.
The conference represented an important opportunity for dialogue on the future of the sector, with a focus on the sustainable development of the entire supply chain at the global level. Equally central was the reflection on Italy’s role and ongoing projects within the framework of the Mattei Plan, as well as the contribution of Italy’s leading coffee industry players. The event also served as an occasion for integrated promotion, showcasing the Italian coffee supply chain. A video presentation, produced in collaboration by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, ICE, ICO, and industry associations, highlighted coffee as a hallmark of Made in Italy from multiple perspectives: from roasting to machinery production, from packaging to the promotion of Italian coffee culture.
In his opening remarks, the Italian Ambassador to London emphasized the importance of coffee not only as a strategic sector for the Italian economy but also as a cultural and social element:
“Italy plays a key role in the global coffee market, both as one of the largest consumers in the world and for its espresso culture. The ritual of espresso—quick, intense, and social—and the uniqueness of the Italian cappuccino have become ambassadors of the Italian lifestyle worldwide.”
He added: “Today’s event is an opportunity to discuss economic development, social inclusion, and the environmental impact of the global coffee supply chain, addressing future challenges from multiple perspectives.”
Giovanni Sacchi, Director of ICE, underlined how the coffee sector is one of the pillars of Made in Italy. Italy accounts for about a quarter of global roasted coffee production, with exports exceeding €2.5 billion in 2024 (+8% compared to 2023), driven by production hubs in Turin, Trieste, and Naples, with excellent results in Europe (particularly in the UK) and in the United States. Italy is also globally recognized as the homeland of espresso, in addition to being a world leader in coffee packaging and in the production of roasting and brewing machines.
The coffee sector is at the core of Italy’s international cooperation strategy, which aims to strengthen climate adaptation capacity and supply chain sustainability. The initiatives include ACT (Advancing Climate-adaptation and Transformation in African Coffee), developed with UNIDO in five African countries, and the upcoming Team Europe Initiative on Coffee led by Italy together with the European Commission. These are complemented by the BOOST Coffee program with the World Bank and collaboration with the European Forest Institute.
