- Producer & Roaster Forum will return to Guatemala on 7 & 8 March 2024
- Applications are open for speakers at PRF
- Guatemalan coffee professionals are encouraged to apply
FOLLOWING THE success of September’s event, Producer & Roaster Forum (PRF) will return next year on 7 & 8 March. The two-day forum will be held in Guatemala – where PRF took place in 2019.
PRF has a distinct focus on empowering coffee producers and elevating their voices in the global coffee industry. Beyond this, the event creates market opportunities for producers – it is estimated that PRF Colombia 2023 generated more than $12.5 million worth of business for the country’s domestic coffee sector.
The 2024 edition will bring the same local opportunities – as over 4,000 coffee professionals are expected to attend and take part in lectures, workshops, and cuppings at the Anacafé venue in Guatemala City. PRF Guatemala will also feature several coffee competitions.
Coffee production is a crucial part of Guatemala’s economy, with over 125,000 families working in the sector. The country is among the top ten producing countries globally, with approximately 44% of its coffee grown by smallholder farmers.
A primary aim of PRF is to boost green coffee sales within the host country, as well as champion Latin America as a global hub of coffee knowledge and expertise. A key aspect of this is giving producers a prominent role in discussions throughout the event – ensuring that their insights and perspectives are listened to.
Speaker applications are now open
As with past events, prominent figures in the global coffee industry are invited to speak across both days. Speakers will discuss a wide range of urgent topics, including the most pressing challenges coffee producers face today.
PRF provides a platform for speakers and lecturers to share their knowledge, experiences, and visions for the future of the coffee industry; and for people to discuss some of the issues which matter to them the most.
Next year, PRF will focus exclusively on lectures to add more value to the experience for both attendees and speakers. If you are interested in presenting at PRF Guatemala on a subject you are passionate and knowledgeable about, speaker applications are now open.
The event will also feature workshops and cupping sessions. Applicants are welcome to apply to lead these sessions, too.
How to apply
While the event has a specific focus on producers and roasters, all actors and stakeholders are welcome to apply. If you are an English or Spanish-speaking coffee professional in any capacity, you are eligible to apply to become a speaker at PRF Guatemala.
To ensure the event adds as much value as possible, applicants must have a minimum of five years experience in their respective fields, as well as some degree of public speaking experience. All presentations should be around 20 minutes. Crucially, speakers need to provide a beneficial or educational experience for attendees.
At the same time, PRF speeches typically address the specific needs and challenges of the host country, aiming to provide value to key industry stakeholders – particularly producers.
As such, speeches should be tailored to a Latin American audience of coffee professionals from across the supply chain. Following this, Guatemalan coffee professionals are specifically encouraged to apply.
Speeches will be recorded and shared on YouTube in the weeks following the event. Additionally, speakers will be recognised through features on the PRF website, social media channels, and newsletters.
If you’re interested in speaking at PRF Guatemala, please apply by 1 December 2023. To apply, please fill out the speaker application form in English here and in Spanish here. The PRF team will carefully review and consider each application.
If successful, you will hear from the PRF team shortly after submitting your application. All speakers are granted a full-access ticket to PRF Guatemala. However, please note that speakers are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.
Next year’s forum is already shaping up to be another unmissable event for the coffee industry, where important and thought-provoking discussions will be held across two days. For those with passion and something to share, this is the platform to do it.
Coffee Intelligence
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