Rooted in Resilience: How the Grafting Competition in Guatemala is Cultivating Climate-Smart Coffee—and Empowering Women
With climate change accelerating challenges for coffee producers around the world, women in Guatemala are meeting the moment with skill, innovation, and community. Thanks to support from Caribou Coffee’s Amy’s Blend initiative, the Women in Coffee Association Guatemala (Mujeres en Cafe en Guatemala) has expanded its National Grafting Competition, a program that’s transforming how coffee is grown—and who gets to lead that transformation.
A Decade of Innovation and Empowerment
Now in its 10th year, the National Grafting Competition is a flagship program of IWCA Guatemala. Developed to address the dual challenges of climate change and gender inequity, the competition is both a training ground and a celebration. Women coffee producers—many of whom have historically been excluded from technical roles—compete in two phases:
Regional Stage: Local competitions identify outstanding women grafting technicians. These regional winners not only earn recognition for their precision and knowledge, but also go on to serve as ambassadors and trainers within their communities.
National Stage: Regional winners advance to the national level, where they demonstrate advanced techniques and showcase sustainable agronomic practices. The emphasis is on innovation, quality, and community impact—not just competition.
But this initiative is about much more than prizes. It’s about building resilience. Through technical workshops, peer learning, and hands-on training, women producers learn and share climate-smart practices like plant grafting, nursery management, and plantation renewal. These skills are essential in helping farms adapt to rising temperatures and shifting growing conditions—ensuring coffee’s future for generations to come.
Powered by Partnership: The Role of Caribou Coffee
In 2024, Caribou Coffee partnered with the International Women’s Coffee Alliance through their Amy’s Blend initiative. Created in honor of Caribou’s original roastmaster, Amy Erickson, Amy’s Blend is more than a seasonal roast—it’s a tribute to women in coffee, and a source of direct impact.
A portion of every bag of Amy’s Blend sold was donated to IWCA chapters in the countries where the coffee was sourced, including Guatemala. This support enabled IWCA Guatemala to:
Expand the Grafting Competition
Deliver additional workshops and technical training to chapter members
Represent women in coffee at key national events, including CAFEX, the Natural Reserves Congress, and the 75th Anniversary of CATIE
Participate in the Community of Practice in the Trifinio Region and other cross-sector convenings
As Domitila, Chair of the IWCA Guatemala Board, shared:
“The funds allowed us to organize specialized workshops so our women coffee producers could deepen their knowledge in grafting, nursery management, and sustainable agriculture. We also acquired high-quality materials to better evaluate their skills and encourage excellence.”
What’s Ahead in 2025
With continued support, IWCA Guatemala will:
Grow the reach of the Grafting Competition
Expand training on sustainability, EUDR compliance, and climate change resilience
Continue representing women producers at national and regional industry platforms
Increase commercial visibility for their members and connect women producers with buyers locally and internationally
This work is possible because of committed partnerships—like the one with Caribou Coffee—and the unwavering drive of the women leading change from the ground up.
A Legacy That Grows
Amy’s Blend honors a woman who helped set Caribou Coffee’s quality standards and cared deeply about community. Thirty years after her passing, her legacy continues—not only in every bag of coffee but in the lives and livelihoods of women producers in Guatemala and beyond.
By purchasing Amy’s Blend, consumers are doing more than drinking great coffee—they’re investing in climate solutions, local leadership, and the future of coffee itself.
To learn more about Amy’s Blend or IWCA’s work in Guatemala and beyond, visit CaribouCoffee.com.