Brazil will return to the helm of the International Coffee Organisation, which on Thursday named a senior agriculture official from the world's top coffee growing country as its executive director. Roberio Oliveira Silva, 48, director for coffee at Brazil's agriculture ministry, was appointed to the job by consensus after his Mexican rival withdrew, an ICO official said.
"We will increase co-operation between producing countries and work for the increase of coffee consumption," Silva, who drinks strong espresso, told Reuters by telephone. He said his start date had yet to be determined. "Brazil holds the ICO in high regard. We will work with all producing and consuming countries," he said.
The London-based International Coffee Organisation was founded in 1963, the same year Silva was born, and comprises of exporting and importing nations. It seeks to ensure the crop stays financially viable for producers by promoting consumption, pushing for higher quality standards and by seeking to reduce the environmental impact of coffee cultivation.
A source at the agriculture ministry in Brazil earlier told Reuters Silva's appointment was sealed after his rival, Mexico's Rodolfo Trampe, who heads a producers' association there, pulled out of the race, leaving no other contenders. Trampe confirmed to Reuters he had withdrawn from the race and would hold a press conference on Friday. Silva takes up the role at a time of jubilation for coffee producers world-wide who are enjoying sustained high prices for their beans since rates roughly doubled around the middle of 2010 after hovering much lower for many years. Brazil could overtake the United States as the world's top coffee consumer by 2012.
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