Julius Meinl
Julius Meinl Generations Programme
Contributing to a more sustainable future for coffee farming communities
VP Group Strategies & Corporate Communication and 5th generation family member
Christina Meinl
“With a history of more than 160 years, Julius Meinl is a family-business built on generations of expertise and passion for coffee. Through the Generations Programme, we are committed to preserving and passing down the knowledge and traditions of coffee farming, securing a sustainable future for the families and communities that make our coffee exceptional.”
Improving Soil Health in Colombia
In 2018, we partnered with the Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) to launch the first project of the Generations Programme in Colombia, originally named the "Colombian Heritage Project." The focus was on agronomist training and providing coffee dryers to help farmers improve yields and income, making coffee farming more appealing to younger generations.
In 2023, the project entered its second phase, expanding to more farmers and emphasising soil health as a “generational legacy.” Through training in regenerative agricultural practices such as weed management and composting, we help farmers increase organic soil matter and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers, ensuring long-term soil fertility for future generations of coffee farmers. By decreasing the amount of fertiliser that needs to be purchased, farmers can make savings, which increases their income and allows them to reinvest in other projects, further strengthening their livelihoods.
Income Diversification in Uganda
Launched in 2023, our Generations Programme in Uganda focuses on improving farmers' livelihoods by equipping them with valuable income-generating skills and providing training in business management and marketing.. These efforts empower farmers to start their own microbusinesses, fostering greater financial stability and resilience through income diversification.
The skills training includes, among others, organic pesticide and biochar production, sandal making, liquid soap production, and poultry farming. Beyond generating additional income, the production of organic pesticides and biochar reduces reliance on synthetic fertilisers, enhances coffee yields and bean quality, and minimises the environmental impact of farming.
Empowering young farmers in India
Our Generations Programme in India, launched at the end of 2025, marks a new project to empower young coffee farmers in Kerala and Karnataka to build resilient and sustainable livelihoods. In collaboration with Fairtrade Austria and Fairtrade’s local network, the project offers training in climate-smart farming practices, biodiversity, soil health, and digital tools for marketing and farm management.
By fostering intergenerational dialogue and equipping youth with leadership and agribusiness skills, the programme ensures that the knowledge of older farmers is preserved while opening new opportunities for the next era of coffee production. Alongside training, farmer cooperatives receive resilient coffee seedlings to replace aging plants, securing productivity and protecting farms against the impacts of climate change.
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